The hot stage microscope (made by Mettler, on an
Olympus microscope) is a polarizing microscope with a stage
compartment that is temperature controlled by a computer. A
particle or fiber of interest is mounted on a microscope slide and
placed into the chamber of the hot stage (light grey). By varying
the temperature, the melting point of a crystal or fiber can be
determined. To the right of the microscope is a controller used to
vary the temperature experienced by the specimen.