A microscope that uses the change of phase when light is transmitted or reflected from a transparent or reflective specimen to form an image; used especially to study living cells.

An instrument used to study the differences in the phase of light transmitted through a specimen.

a microscope whose objective is composed of two mirrors, one convex and the other concave; it is free of chromatic aberration

A device used to form an image of the surface of a conductor or semiconductor with atomic resolution.

An electron microscope whose image is made up of a matrix of points from scanning the surface of a sample.

Any of several forms of microscope that use a beam of electrons, rather than one of light, and thus has a much greater resolving power.

A microscope with only one lens.

A microscope with more than one lens, arranged so that the image formed by one lens is further magnified by another.

The science and technology associated with the design and use of atomic force microscopes

(physics) A device used to map the atomic structure of a surface by measuring the force acting on the very fine tip of a wire moved over the surface