Olympus ACH N 10X POL Objective – Strain-Free Polarized Light

The Olympus ACH N 10× POL Objective is a specialized strain-free achromat lens engineered for polarized light microscopy applications. With 10× magnification and strain-free optical construction, this objective enables accurate observation of birefringent materials, crystalline structures, and optical properties at medium magnification, making it essential for geological analysis, materials science, and any application requiring polarization microscopy.

Strain-free optical construction is the critical feature that distinguishes polarization objectives from standard objectives. Standard objectives may contain internal stresses in the glass elements that can affect polarized light, introducing unwanted birefringence and interfering with accurate observation of sample optical properties. The ACH N POL series is specifically designed with strain-free optics, ensuring that the objective itself does not introduce artifacts or interfere with polarization analysis.

At 10× magnification with a numerical aperture of 0.25, this objective provides medium magnification for detailed observation of birefringent materials. This magnification is ideal for examining mineral grains, crystalline structures, and materials samples where you need more detail than low-power objectives provide while maintaining a reasonable field of view. The 10× magnification is a standard working magnification for geological thin section analysis and materials characterization.

The 6mm working distance provides good clearance for geological thin sections, petrographic samples, and materials specimens. This working distance accommodates standard thin section thickness and provides adequate space for sample manipulation without risk of objective contact. The clearance also allows for the use of polarization accessories such as compensators and retardation plates that may be positioned near the sample.

Achromat correction provides good color correction for routine polarization applications. While not as highly corrected as plan fluorite or plan apochromat objectives, achromat objectives offer reliable performance for standard geological and materials analysis where the highest level of color correction is not required. The achromat design provides a cost-effective solution for routine polarization microscopy.

As an infinity-corrected objective, this lens is designed for modern microscope systems where the image is formed at infinity, allowing the insertion of optical components such as polarizers, analyzers, and compensators in the parallel light path without introducing aberrations. This makes it fully compatible with polarized light microscopy techniques including orthoscopic observation, conoscopic observation, and quantitative polarization analysis.

Designed for use with Olympus BX and CX series polarizing microscopes, this objective integrates seamlessly with polarization accessories and provides the optical performance required for geological analysis, materials science, and educational applications. The robust construction and precision Japanese manufacturing ensure reliable performance in demanding research and educational environments.