Bimorph spirals for uncooled photothermal spectroscopy
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsScott R. Manalis, Stephen C. Minne, Calvin F. Quate
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Abstract
A bimorph spiral which exhibits a shape-altering response to thermal radiation and is dimensioned to have a focussing effect on light, such as a visible light, by acting as a quasi-Fresnel element. The focussing effect varies as the shape of the bimorph spiral changes due to absorption of thermal radiation. An array of such bimorph spirals can be used for efficient, high-resolution and rapid uncooled photothermal spectroscopy.
Claims19
A bimorph spiral having a shape-altering response to a thermal radiation, said bimorph spiral being dimensioned to have a focussing effect on a light, whereby said focussing effect is changed by said shape-altering response.
An array of bimorph spirals, each of said bimorph spirals having a shape-altering response to a thermal radiation, and each of said bimorph spirals being dimensioned to have a focussing effect on a light, whereby said focussing effect is changed by said shape-altering response.
An apparatus for photothermal spectroscopy, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a bimorph spiral having a shape-altering response to a thermal radiation, said bimorph spiral being dimensioned to have a focussing effect on a light;
- b) a detector for detecting said light;
- whereby said focussing effect is changed by said shape altering response.
A method for detecting a thermal radiation comprising the following steps:
- a) providing a bimorph spiral having a shape-altering response to said thermal radiation, said bimorph spiral being dimensioned to have a focussing effect on a light, whereby said focussing effect is changed by said shape altering response;
- b) exposing said bimorph spiral to said thermal radiation;
- c) illuminating said bimorph spiral with a light;
- and
- d) detecting said light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.