The phase contrast microscope relies on the principle of different indices of refraction to gain resolution. Light waves passing through a living cell are placed slightly out-of-phase with each other due to refraction around given organelles. This difference is accentuated by special filters within the microscope which only permit particular wavelengths to pass through. The transmitted light is magnified as in a normal light microscope.
Hence, phase contrast microscopy relies on an inherent physical property of cells and no staining is required. This makes it suited to the study of living cells.
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