Öljyimmersiota

Öljyimmersiota, sometimes referred to as oil immersion, is a technique used in microscopy to increase the resolution of a light microscope. This is achieved by placing a drop of immersion oil between the objective lens and the specimen slide. The oil has a refractive index very close to that of glass, which minimizes light scattering and refraction as it passes from the slide into the objective lens. Without the oil, light rays would bend significantly at the air-glass interface, causing a loss of detail and reducing the effective magnification.

The refractive index of immersion oil is typically around 1.515, similar to that of standard microscope slides and coverslips. This optical coupling allows more light rays to enter the objective lens, especially those at higher angles. The result is a sharper, brighter image with improved resolution, enabling the observation of finer structures that would otherwise be indistinguishable.

Using oil immersion requires specific objective lenses designed for this purpose, usually marked as "oil" or "HI" (high immersion). The process involves carefully placing a single drop of the oil onto the coverslip or the objective lens, then lowering the objective into the oil. After observation, the oil must be thoroughly cleaned from both the slide and the objective lens to prevent damage and ensure clarity for future use. Specialized cleaning solutions are often recommended for this task.