Point-spread functions of a polarizing microscope equipped with high-numerical-aperture lenses

In an effort to establish the imaging properties of a new type of polarized-light microscope, we recorded images of small, uniaxial, birefringent crystals. We show that the sequence of in-focus and out-of-focus images, the so-called point-spread function, of a submicroscopic crystal can be used to measure the orientation of its optic axis in three-dimensional space. By analogy to conoscopic images out-of-focus images reveal the changes in relative phase shift between the extraordinary and the ordinary rays that propagate at different directions through the crystal. We also present simulated images of a pointlike anisotropic scattering particle and compare these with our experimental findings. The theoretical model is based on a complete vectorial theory for partial coherent imaging by use of polarized light and high-numerical-aperture lenses. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America. OCIS codes: 180.6900, 120.2130, 260.1440, 180.3170, 050.1940.