What Are the Components of a Polarized Light Microscope?

A typical polarized light microscope consists of several key components:

Polarizer: A filter that allows only light waves oscillating in a single plane to pass through.
Analyzer: Another filter placed after the sample that allows only one plane of polarized light to pass through, enhancing contrast.
Rotatable Stage: Allows the sample to be rotated to observe changes in birefringence.
Compensators: Devices used to measure the phase shift caused by birefringent materials.