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48 I-PentaMAX System Manual Version 3.A
Microscopes and Infrared Light
Microscope optics have very high transmission efficiencies in the infrared region of the
spectrum. Since the light sources are very good emitters in the infrared, some
microscopes are equipped with IR blockers or heat filters to prevent heating of optical
elements or the sample.
For those microscopes that do not have the better IR blockers, the throughput of infrared
light to the camera can be fairly high. In addition, while the eye is unable to see the light,
the camera is very efficient in detecting near-infrared wavelengths. As a result, the
contaminating infrared light will cause a degradation of the image quality due to a high
background signal that will be invisible to the eye. Therefore, it is recommended that you
add an IR blocker prior to the camera if you encounter this problem with the microscope.