Description: Understanding the Light Microscope consists of four original computer programs with an explanatory book. Author Dan Goldstein says using the programs can teach aspects of microscopy and diffraction often missed from formal courses, adding, ."..what one non-mathematician has created should not be beyond the understanding of others!" The programs and accompanying text guide the user through the principles and practice of light microscopy, although they assume familiarity with elementary geometric optics. The book aims to provide understanding at a level deeper than customary in existing texts and in a form accessible to microscope users, particularly biologists. It covers simple ray optics, the aberrations of "real" (thick) lenses, polarized light, and the influence of diffraction on imaging. The book can be read alone, but appreciation of its contents is greatly enhanced when used in conjunction with the programs. The programs run on a PC, and are recommended for use with a microscope readily at hand.

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