Light and electron microscopy /

Though the subject of electron microscopy is treated in the scientific literature, few sources focus primarily on this area, especially at the introductory undergraduate level. The Slayters provide a useful update to the material contained in Cecil E. Hall, Introduction to Electron Microscopy (2nd ed., 1966) and in Elizabeth M. Slayter, Optical Methods in Biology (CH, Oct'70). In addition, a background in light and optics is provided, rendering the book self-contained. The first half of the book summarizes traditional light and optics at the level of Francis A. Jenkins and Harvey E. White, Fundamentals of Optics (4th ed., 1976). All of the important areas of optics are touched on, such as geometrical and wave optics, polarization of light, and lenses. Excellent sections on general microscopy and the light microscope follow, with material on the imaging of phase objects and polarizing microscopy. Having set the stage, the authors devote the last third to electron microscopy in detail. Transmission, scanning, and scanning-transmission types of electron microscopes are discussed in all aspects from history to practical applications. Up-to-date information on photography and innovations in electron microscopy round out the volume. The material is very well presented with numerous illustrations and graphs; author and subject indexes; chapter bibliographies. Highly recommended. Undergraduate; graduate; pre-professional.