A guide to Differential Interference Contrast (DIC)

Join Geoff Ingram, Senior Product Specialist at Scientifica, as he explains what DIC is, how does it work and how to set it up on an upright microscope like the Scientifica SliceScope.

[@gregvisioninfosoft]

I am trying to learn more about DIC. I completely understand what a linear polarizer is. I also understand what a quarter wave plate is. I understand the purpose of the magnification-specific matched set of two DIC Nomarski prisms (though I have zero idea how these are constructed, or what would cause a 10X DIC nomarski prism to be different from a 20X, 40X or 100X DIC nomarski prism). But can anyone explain what the h*ll the so called 'analyzer' is as an optical component? Apparently this is needed in the optical schematic to work, yet I have zero idea about this component? Is there a 'one-size-fits-all' generic 'analyzer'? Is an 'analyzer' made by Nikon the optical equivalent of one made by Olympus? How are 'Analyzers' specified? Thanks, in advance, for any help anyone can give me to understand what an analyzer for DIC use actually is.