Adding spectroscopy to your microscope!
Optical microscopes are routinely found in a wide variety of laboratories, but they are often only used as a magnifying glass to allow the user to better see the sample. However, even an inexpensive microscope can be upgraded to do so much more! By sending the light from the microscope to a spectrometer, many different types of spectra can be measured with a much smaller sampling area than is capable with a standard bench-top spectroscopy tool, such as transmission, reflection, fluorescence, and other types of optical emission. Microscope spectrophotometers (or microspectrophotometers / MSP) are designed to measure UV-VIS-NIR spectra of microscopic samples or microscopic areas of larger objects. While a standard spectrophotometer is designed to measure samples on the order of 1 x 1 centimeters, the microspectrophotometer is able to measure samples on the order of 1 x 1 micrometers...much smaller than the thickness of a human hair. The 508 PVTM microscope spectrophotometer is a modular head unit that can be installed on the open phototube port of most upright microscopes to add spectroscopy to your microscope. With CRAIC Technologies products, you can acquire high quality spectra of even sub-micron samples rapidly, non-destructively and with ease.
As shown in the diagram on the right, the MSP head unit can be added to the photoport of a microscope, and the spectrometer measures the light that is collected by the objective and focused onto the spectrophotometer entrance aperture. Whether this light is transmitted through the sample, reflected from the sample, or emitted by the sample, that only changes the calculations done on the light intensity measured.
Beyond just measuring UV-VIS-NIR spectra with microscale sampling areas, microspectrophotometers are also capable of microspot thin film thickness and colorimetry measurements. When combined with motorized stages, hyperspectral data cubes can even be created with various types of spectra. Because these instruments are so flexible, MSP's are used in many diverse fields of research and industry.
As shown in the diagram on the right, the MSP head unit can be added to the photoport of a microscope, and the spectrometer measures the light that is collected by the objective and focused onto the spectrophotometer entrance aperture. Whether this light is transmitted through the sample, reflected from the sample, or emitted by the sample, that only changes the calculations done on the light intensity measured.
Beyond just measuring UV-VIS-NIR spectra with microscale sampling areas, microspectrophotometers are also capable of microspot thin film thickness and colorimetry measurements. When combined with motorized stages, hyperspectral data cubes can even be created with various types of spectra. Because these instruments are so flexible, MSP's are used in many diverse fields of research and industry.
Raman spectroscopy with a microscope!
Optical microscopes are routinely found in a wide variety of laboratories, but they are often only used as a magnifying glass to allow the user to better see the sample. But when CRAIC Technologies adds a laser and a Raman spectrometer, along with an advanced optical interface, you can do so much more! CRAIC Raman spectrometers are designed for micro Raman spectroscopy of microscopic samples or microscopic areas of larger objects. While a standard Raman spectrometer is designed to measure samples on the order of 1 x 1 centimeters, the Raman microspectrometer is able to measure samples on the order of 1 x 1 micrometers...much smaller than the thickness of a human hair. The Apollo Raman systems are modular units that are installed on an upright optical microscopes to add micro Raman spectroscopy capabilities. With CRAIC Technologies products, you can acquire high quality Raman spectra of even sub-micron samples rapidly, non-destructively and with ease.
As shown in the diagram on the right, the Apollo Raman module is integrated with the frame of an upright optical microscope. The module includes the lasers, the Raman spectrometer and integration optics. The laser illuminates the sample and the Raman spectrometer measures the light that is collected by the objective and focused onto the Raman spectrometer entrance aperture.
Of course, CRAIC Raman microspectrometers can also do much more. They can also be configured to measure UV-VIS-NIR microspectra™ in transmission, reflectance, fluorescence and photoluminescence. They are also capable of microspot thin film thickness and colorimetry measurements.
As shown in the diagram on the right, the Apollo Raman module is integrated with the frame of an upright optical microscope. The module includes the lasers, the Raman spectrometer and integration optics. The laser illuminates the sample and the Raman spectrometer measures the light that is collected by the objective and focused onto the Raman spectrometer entrance aperture.
Of course, CRAIC Raman microspectrometers can also do much more. They can also be configured to measure UV-VIS-NIR microspectra™ in transmission, reflectance, fluorescence and photoluminescence. They are also capable of microspot thin film thickness and colorimetry measurements.
Typical test spectra from for thin film thickness
Industries that use film thickness measurements include:
- Optics
- Semiconductor
- Films on stents
- and much more....
Small spot thin film thickness measurement can be done both by transmission and reflectance..
Thin film thickness measurement is done to monitor the thickness of thin films for a number of reasons. These include such diverse industries as semiconductor integrated circuit manufacturing, anti-reflective coatings on optics, protective coatings and many more. In all of these cases, it is critical to have consistent thickness of the films that are being deposited on the surface. This can be done by acquiring the transmission or reflectance spectrum of a microscopically small area and calculating the thickness of the film. This can be done for many locations on the item to map the changes in film thickness across the surface.
The CRAIC Technologies™ microspectrophotometer tools allow for non-destructive and non-contact thin film thickness measurement of sub-micron sized areas in both reflectance and transmittance. CRAIC instruments can also measure polarization anisotropy, optical emissions and even fluorescence. These flexible tools are equally at home in the R&D laboratory, the fab floor or the failure analysis facility. Currently, CRAIC solutions are used for film thickness measurement of semiconductors, LCD displays, OLED's, and optical products.
To learn more about thin film thickness measurement and how microspectrophotometers do it, select one of the following links:
Thin Film Thickness Measurement Science
Adding spectroscopy to your microscope!
Optical microscopes are routinely found in a wide variety of laboratories, but they are often only used as a magnifying glass to allow the user to better see the sample. However, even an inexpensive microscope can be upgraded to do so much more! By sending the light from the microscope to a spectrometer, many different types of spectra can be measured with a much smaller sampling area than is capable with a standard bench-top spectroscopy tool, such as transmission, reflection, fluorescence, and other types of optical emission. Microspectrometers (MSP) are designed to measure UV-VIS-NIR spectra of microscopic samples or microscopic areas of larger objects. While a standard spectrophotometer is designed to measure samples on the order of 1 x 1 centimeters, the microspectrometer is able to measure samples on the order of 1 x 1 micrometers...much smaller than the thickness of a human hair. The 508 PVTM microscope spectrophotometer is a modular head unit that can be installed on the open phototube port of most upright microscopes to add spectroscopy to your microscope. With CRAIC Technologies products, you can acquire high quality spectra of even sub-micron samples rapidly, non-destructively and with ease.
As shown in the diagram on the right, the MSP head unit can be added to the photoport of a microscope, and the spectrometer measures the light that is collected by the objective and focused onto the spectrophotometer entrance aperture. Whether this light is transmitted through the sample, reflected from the sample, or emitted by the sample, that only changes the calculations done on the light intensity measured.
Beyond just measuring UV-VIS-NIR spectra with microscale sampling areas, the microspectrometer are also capable of microspot thin film thickness and colorimetry measurements. When combined with motorized stages, hyperspectral data cubes can even be created with various types of spectra. Because these instruments are so flexible, MSP's are used in many diverse fields of research and industry.
As shown in the diagram on the right, the MSP head unit can be added to the photoport of a microscope, and the spectrometer measures the light that is collected by the objective and focused onto the spectrophotometer entrance aperture. Whether this light is transmitted through the sample, reflected from the sample, or emitted by the sample, that only changes the calculations done on the light intensity measured.
Beyond just measuring UV-VIS-NIR spectra with microscale sampling areas, the microspectrometer are also capable of microspot thin film thickness and colorimetry measurements. When combined with motorized stages, hyperspectral data cubes can even be created with various types of spectra. Because these instruments are so flexible, MSP's are used in many diverse fields of research and industry.
Microfluorometer
Emission Spectra Measured with a Microspectrophotometer
The microfluorometer measures the UV-visible-NIR fluorescence spectra of microscopic samples.
The Microfluorometer is a fluorescence spectrophotometer combined with a microscope. They are designed to measure fluorescence spectra of microscopic samples or microscopic areas of larger objects. There are two basic types: the fully integrated microfluorometer that has been built and optimized for fluorescence microspectroscopy and the fluorescence spectrometer unit designed to attach to an open photoport of an optical microscope. The beauty of microfluorometers is that they can also be configured to measure the transmission and reflectance spectra of microscopic sample areas in addition to fluorescence. And with special software, they are capable of colorimetry as well.
A CRAIC Technologies™ microfluorometer is a purpose-built system that allows you to analyze UV-visible-NIR range fluorescence microspectra™ non-destructively and with no sample contact. Capable of analyzing even sub-micron areas, they are also capable of high resolution digital imaging. Designed for ease-of-use, they are durable instruments designed for microscale spectroscopy.
To learn more about microspectroscopy and microfluorometers, select one of the following links:
