QUANTITATIVE IMAGE-ANALYSIS OF BIREFRINGENT BIOLOGICAL-MATERIAL

A previously described optical technique for enhancing interference co lour contrast in polarized light microscopy is adapted for quantitativ e image analysis. This is based on a linear relationship for colour in tensity vs. molecular birefringence and degree of phase alignment, der ived using nematic liquid crystal approximations, and verified experim entally. The image analysis is described and illustrated on a section of the marginal rib of the dogfish egg case.