Wide area optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy
AssigneePhotothermal Spectroscopy Corp.
InventorsCraig Prater, Derek Decker, Roshan Shetty
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for microscopic analysis of a sample by simultaneously characterizing infrared absorption characteristics of a plurality of spatially resolved locations are described herein. These apparatuses and methods improve sampling times while collecting microscopic data regarding composition of a sample across a wide field.
Claims32
An apparatus for microscopic analysis of a sample by simultaneously characterizing infrared absorption characteristics of a plurality of spatially resolved locations corresponding to a wide area of the sample, the apparatus comprising:
- a source of infrared radiation configured to illuminate the wide area of the sample with a beam of infrared radiation;
- a source of probe radiation configured to illuminate the wide area of the sample with a beam of probe radiation;
- a collector configured to collect as collected probe radiation at least a portion of probe radiation from each of the plurality of spatially resolved locations on the sample;
- at least one camera configured to detect at least a portion of the collected probe radiation to generate signals indicative of infrared absorption corresponding to each one of the plurality of spatially resolved locations,
- wherein the signals indicative of infrared absorption have a spatial resolution of less than 1 micrometer.
A method of operating a system for simultaneously characterizing infrared absorption characteristics of a plurality of locations on a sample, the method comprising the steps of:
- illuminating the plurality of locations of the sample with a source of infrared radiation to create an infrared illuminated spot on the sample;
- illuminating the plurality of locations of the sample with a source of probe radiation;
- collecting probe radiation from the plurality of sample locations;
- detecting collected probe radiation with at least one camera;
- and
- analyzing camera detected probe radiation to generate signals indicative of infrared absorption of the plurality of locations on the sample, wherein the signals indicative of infrared absorption of the plurality of sample locations achieve a spatial resolution of less than 1 μm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.