Course Outline & Syllabus

Students will acquire the basic knowledge and practical skills to apply polarized light methods to trace evidence analysis. Topics include Koehler illumination, refractive index determination, crystal morphology and optics, and birefringence. Instructors will emphasize particle characterization, including fibers, paint, glass, hair, explosives, soil, and drugs.

There is no prerequisite for this course.

Day 1:
Physical optics: reflection, refraction, refractive index, dispersion, lenses, aberrations, objectives, oculars, condensers, stands, lamps, image formation, illumination, resolving power, image contrast, micrometry, crystallization, crystal morphology.

Day 2:
Microchemistry; particle-picking, manipulation, testing; crystal optics: color & pleochroism, refractive indices, dispersion staining.

Day 3:
Crossed polars: birefringence, retardation, interference figures; identification of small single particles: synthetics and natural fibers, diverse biological particles, minerals, industrial dusts and combustion products.

Day 4:
Visual thermal analysis (i.e. fusion methods): polymorphism, isomorphism, liquid crystals, hot stages, cold stages, digital imaging techniques, composition diagram; accessories for the light microscope to improve resolution, contrast and additional characterization data.

Day 5:
Characterization and identification of knowns and unknowns

Note: This course runs Monday-Friday with class ending at noon on Friday.

Dates:
January 14-18, 2008 Closed
February 25-29, 2008 Closed
March 10-14, 2008 Closed
April 21-25, 2008 Closed
May 5-9, 2008 Closed
July 21-25, 2008 Closed
August 25-29, 2008 Closed
Sept. 29 October 3, 2008 Closed
November 10-14, 2008 Closed
December 1-5, 2008 Closed