Microscopy

Bates supports a wide variety of microscopy techniques (see below). These instruments are available to all Bates faculty, staff, and students. For training or general consultation, please contact Mark Lessard.

Field Emission Variable Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscope with EDS

This instrument is equipped with a sample chamber-level secondary electron detector and both HV and LV backscatter detectors. It is equipped with a Schottkey thermal field emission gun and offers resolution of approximately 2-3 nm at 30 kV.

The SEM is equipped with a Thermo/ Noran System 7 Energy Dispersive Spectrometer with a LN-free digital detector. This system enables quantitative spectrum analysis with and without standards, spectral imaging, x-ray mapping, x-ray line scans, point and shoot sampling, and digital image acquisition.

Sample preparation equipment for the SEM:

Denton Vacuum DV1 Carbon Evaporation unit; attachments for rods or yarn 

Anatech Hummer 6.6 Sputtering System with rotating, tilted stage and Au/Pd target 

Ladd Research CO2 Critical Point Dryer 

Scandium Image analysis software

Adobe Photoshop software

Fume hood

The Leica SP8 confocal microscope is equipped with the following:

  • 405nm laser, Argon laser (458, 476, 488, 496, 514nm lines), White Light Laser (470nm -670nm), excitation sources
  • 5 fluorescence detectors (2 PMT’s, 3 HyD’s), and a transmitted light detector
  • Objectives:
    • 10x 0.35NA
    • 20x 0.75NA multi-immersion
    • 25x 0.95NA water immersion 
    • 40x 1.1NA water immersion with motorized correction collar
    • 40x 1.3NA oil immersion
    • 63x 1.4NA oil immersion
  • Full environmental chamber for live imaging

Nikon Eclipse TE2000-U Widefield Fluorescence Scope (Inverted)

Configuration:

  • Motorized stage, focus, and shutters
  • Excite 120 fluorescence light source
  • 5 filter cube positions
  • Nikon Digital Sight DS-Qi1Mc Camera (monochrome, 1.5 megapixel, cooled)
  • Objectives:
    • 4x 0.13 NA Plan Fluor
    • 10x 0.3 NA ELWD Plan Fluor
    • 20x 0.45 NA ELWD Plan Fluor
    • 40x 0.6 NA ELWD Plan Fluor

Nikon Eclipse 80i Fluorescence Scope (Upright)

Configuration:

  • Automated stage and focus
  • 6 filter cube positions
  • XCite 120 Fluorescent Source
  • QImaging Retiga EXi Camera (mono and RGB capable)
  • Objectives:
    • 4x 0.2 NA Plan APO
    • 10x 0.45 NA Plan APO
    • 20x 0.7 NA Plan APO
    • 40x 0.95 NA Plan APO

Nikon Modular Focus Scope (Upright)

  • Configuration:
    • Automated stage and focus
    • Nikon Digital Sight DS-Ri1 Camera
    • 100w Halogen BF source
    • XCite 120 Fluorescence Source
    • FiberLite Transillumination source
    • FiberLite Gooseneck source
    • Objectives:
      • 2x 0.1 NA Plan APO
      • 5x 0.15 NA LU Plan Fluor
      • 10x 0.3 NA LU Plan Fluor
      • 20x 0.4 NA ELWD LU Plan
      • 50x 0.55 NA ELWD LU Plan
  • Notes: 
    • This is a unique system that crosses a stand from a dissection scope with the imaging head of a standard upright scope.
    • It is capable of fluorescence, brightfield, darkfield, DIC, Phase, and Polarization

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