NIJ Advanced Forensic Microscopy: Fibers

Course Outline & Syllabus

This course is based on our popular Forensic Hair and Fiber Microscopy course. However, this course will focus specifically on synthetic and vegetable fibers in order to offer greater depth of instruction.

Polarized light microscopy will be used for the characterization of fibers. Course instruction will emphasize:

-Geometrical and physical optics, Koehler illumination, numerical aperture, resolution, contrast, and micrometry
-Sample preparation of fibers, measurements
-Crystallography of fibers, isotropy vs. anisotropy, polarized light, refractive index, color and pleochroism
-Characterization and identification of synthetic fibers
-Dispersion staining
-Crossed polars, birefringence, extinction characteristics, extinction angle, sign of elongation
-Vegetable fiber characterization and identification
-Unknowns and sample handling

Prerequisite: The Forensic Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) course serve as a prerequisite for the advanced courses. Students must complete the Forensic Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) course or submit proof of competency to the director before an application to the advanced courses will be accepted.