This article is within the scope of WikiProject Physics, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Physics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.PhysicsWikipedia:WikiProject PhysicsTemplate:WikiProject Physicsphysics articles
The article is not accurate and has ignored the use of phase contrast in light microscopy. Phase contrast microscopy is used, in viewing unstained biological samples for example, to distinguish between structures that are of very similar transparency. It takes advantage of the fact that different structures have different refractive indices and so bend light and delay its passage through the sample, by different amounts. The retardation of the light results in some waves being 'out of phase' with others and so to the human eye a microscope in phase contrast mode effectively darkens or brightens particular areas to reflect this change. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 128.40.156.186 (talk • contribs) 20 June 2006
This article is currently under a title which covers a far wider field than the content suggests.
I have suggested a merge rather than the deletion of this article as there may be content which could be transferred to high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, although given the good quality of the HRTEM article I think this is unlikely... - ZephyrisTalk 11:18, 21 July 2009 (UTC)Reply[reply]
Oppose I think a merger is a bad idea - Phase-contrast imaging is *not* synonymous with high resolution transmission electron microscopy, nor is it fully included within high resolution transmission electron microscopy!! These are two different subjects. If that hasn`t been made clear by the current article, it is because the article needs to be improved, not because the subjects are identical. Phase contrast imaging is a technique that does not depend on whether or not you`re using a transmission electron microscope. It`s like suggesting that the article on dyes be merged with the article on hair colouring, because obviously the field of hair colouring covers dyes... 203.181.216.27 (talk) 22:49, 17 July 2011 (UTC)Reply[reply]
I've tried to correct this, and the current state of the article ought to make it clearer that phase contrast imaging is not merely a subset of transmission electron microscopy techniques. 203.181.216.27 (talk) 23:22, 17 July 2011 (UTC)Reply[reply]
The article now covers other topics than electron microscopy, so the arguments for merging no longer apply. I have therefor removed the merge proposal template from the top of the article. I still don't think it covers everything it should (especially within x-ray phase-contrast imaging), so I will try to expand the article when I have time. Ulflund (talk) 10:45, 3 September 2011 (UTC)Reply[reply]