Olympus U-CBE, Berek Compensator, 3 Lamba Measuring Range

The Olympus U-CBE is a Berek compensator with a 3 lambda (3λ) measuring range, designed for quantitative optical path difference (retardation) measurement in polarized light microscopy on Olympus BX series microscopes. The Berek compensator operates by tilting a uniaxial crystal plate (typically calcite) in the polarized light path — the tilt angle introduces a known retardation that can be used to null the retardation of the specimen under observation. By reading the tilt angle at extinction and applying the Berek compensation formula, the precise retardation of the specimen can be calculated in nanometers or as a fraction of the wavelength. With a 3λ measuring range, the U-CBE accommodates specimens with retardation values from near-zero up to three full wavelengths — covering the majority of birefringent materials encountered in mineralogy, polymer science, pharmaceutical crystallography, and biological research. The U-CBE is designed for use with the Olympus U-TAD transmitted light analyzer/polarizer assembly on BX series microscopes. Built to Olympus factory specifications, it delivers the optical precision required for quantitative compensator measurements.