Measurement of lens function of yeast cells using optical microscope and laser pointer

Abstract Measurements using an optical microscope, red, green, and blue laser pointers, a diagonal prism mount and a sapphire ball, as well as calculations using the equation for a thick lens, were conducted to investigate the wavelength dependence of the refractive index of micrometre-sized yeast cells. In addition, projection experiments using a lattice pattern and an optical microscope demonstrated that yeast cells can function as lenses. This research method, which uses familiar materials and instruments, such as yeast cells and optical microscopes, is suitable as a teaching method for optical experiments for not only physics students but also biology students to learn the principles of optical microscopes and lenses.