Systems and methods for imaging characteristics of a sample and for identifying regions of damage in the sample

A method of identifying characteristics of a sample, the method comprising:

• providing a linearly polarized source light to a magneto-optic film, wherein the magneto-optic film is arranged substantially adjacent a surface of the sample, wherein the magneto-optic film is effective to reflect at least a portion of the linearly polarized source light;
• coupling a first current through the sample in a first direction to generate a first magnetic field across the surface of the sample, wherein characteristics of the first magnetic field vary due to the current and the characteristics of the sample;
• capturing a first set of images of the sample using magneto-optical imaging of at least a portion of first reflected light reflected from the source light incident on the magneto-optic film based on the first magnetic field, wherein the first reflected light includes second and third reflected light, a plane of the second reflected light is substantially parallel to the source light, wherein a plane of the third reflected light is rotated with respect to the source light in the presence of the first magnetic field at a first location of the sample where the source light is reflected by the magneto-optic film;
• summing the first set of images to form a first image output;
• coupling a second current through the sample in a second direction to generate a second magnetic field across the surface of the sample, wherein characteristics of the second magnetic field vary due to the second current and the characteristics of the sample;
• capturing a second set of images of the sample using magneto-optical imaging of at least a portion of fourth reflected light reflected from the source light incident on the magneto-optic film based on the second magnetic field, wherein the fourth reflected light includes fifth and sixth reflected light, a plane of the fifth reflected light is substantially parallel to the source light, wherein a plane of the sixth reflected light is rotated with respect to the source light in the presence of second magnetic field at a second location of the sample where the source light is reflected by the magneto-optic film, and wherein the second magnetic field is generated based on the characteristics of the sample and the second current;
• summing the second set of images to form a second image output;
• and
• determining a differential image as a difference between the first image output and the second image output.

A system effective to identify characteristics of a sample, the system comprising:

• a power supply configured to couple a current that includes an AC component to the sample to generate a magnetic field across a surface of the sample, wherein the magnetic field varies due to the current and the characteristics of the sample;
• a magneto-optic film arranged substantially adjacent the surface of the sample;
• a sample analyzer configured to provide a linearly polarized source light to the magneto-optic film, wherein at least a portion of the linearly polarized light is reflected by the magneto-optic film as reflected light, wherein the reflected light includes first reflected light and second reflected light, wherein a plane of the first reflected light is substantially parallel to the source light, and wherein a plane of the second reflected light is rotated with respect to the source light due to presence of the magnetic field at a location of the sample where the source light is reflected by the magneto-optic film when the current is coupled to the sample;
• and
• an image capture device configured to capture an image of the sample using magneto-optical imaging of the first and second reflected light.