Talk:Phase-contrast imaging

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


 * It has been a long while now that this was added, but so far there was no link to the dedicated article on phase contrast in light microscopy, Phase contrast microscopy. I have added this now. I also propose that Phase contrast should redirect to Phase-contrast imaging rather than to the more specific Phase contrast microscopy, as it does now. --Yen Zotto (talk) 11:06, 18 April 2012 (UTC)

Merger Proposal
I suggest this article should be merged with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy for the following reasons: 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... - Zephyris Talk 11:18, 21 July 2009 (UTC)
 * This article covers exactly the same content as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, but in less detail.
 * This article is currently under a title which covers a far wider field than the content suggests.
 * 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)
 * 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)


 * 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)