Soviet Medical Encyclopedia

Abbe Condenser

Chemistry & Physics

Also known as: Abbe Illuminator

Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.

Summary

The Abbe illuminating device for microscopes is an optical system consisting of a mirror and two lenses that directs a conical beam of light onto the object. As Ernst Abbe demonstrated, this system can double the resolving power of a microscope.

Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)

ABBE ILLUMINATING APPARATUS (Abbe) for the microscope, an optical system consisting of a mirror and two lenses. Due to the latter, light falls on the object under examination not in a parallel, but in a conical beam. As Abbe showed, this can double the power of the microscope. With oil immersion (see), the Abbe illuminating apparatus makes it possible to distinguish details down to 1/3 of the wavelength of light (for illustration, see Microscope).

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Cite this page

“Abbe Condenser.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/abbe-condenser/