26 February 2007 -- Holography was invented in 1947 by Dennis Gabor who received Nobel Prize in 1971 for his work where as before microscopy affected only image variations of intensity as with a photograph. Gabor invention made it possible to record not only intensity but also light phase.
In conventional microscope the object is lead by a conventional light source and enlarged by a lens system. The image shows only contrast in intensity, no accurate 3D or vertical measurement is possible.
In holographic microscopy the beam from a coherent light source or laser is split into two beams. One illuminating the object itself and the other providing a reference beam which when recombine with the other beam creates a phase interference that is registered on the hologram plate.
To retrieve the object, the plate is lead by a coherent light beam identical to reference beam used at the recording of the hologram. It permits 3D views of the original object exactly as registered with all optical information with 3D inform but topographical and vertical measurements are not yet possible.
Until after more than 10 years research at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology is in the same phase interference. Scientist registered holographic image in a digital camera which than transfer information into a computer programme.
The numerical reconstruction process permits immediate quantitative axes to intensity and phase.
The company from this institute, Lyncée Tec SA combines for the first time in microscopy nanometric resolution, real time and non-invasive 3D observations in a revolutionary technology called "Digital Holographic Microscopy™" (DHM™). The characteristics of DHM™ instruments make out of it a unique solution for following the whole development cycle of a product, from innovative R&D to quality control in production line, passing through the quantitative optimization of the manufacturing process
DHM has two kind of microscope.
The DHM™ R1000 is a reflection configuration microscope. It is suitable for totally and partially reflecting objects. Its ability to work with low reflective interfaces (down to 1% reflectivity), makes it the ideal tool for rapid inspection and accurate surface topography measurements on a large variety of sample
The DHM™ T1000 is a transmission configuration microscope, suitable for transparent or semi-transparent samples. In this configuration, DHM™ not only provides information about the specimen surface, but is also capable of detecting structures located inside the material.
Application areas of DHM:
Life Sciences; Dynamic cell morphology, high throughput screening, food industry, diagnostics, genomics, proteomics,...
Mems/Moems;;Cantilevers, micromirrors, microlaser cavities, micropumps, accelerometers, printer nozzles,….
Micro-optics; Microlenses, gratings, diffractive optics, pattern generators, microprisms, grin lenses, surface roughness, measurements, crystalline network defects, surface analysis,...
Microtechnology; Microballs, glue spots, wheels, hands and jewels of watches, medical implants, parts of automotive, aeronautics and space industries, micro-injections, surface roughness measurements,..
Semiconductor; Thickness of deposition layer, wafer planarity, surface scratches and defect detection, surface roughness measurements, layer homogeneity control,...
Nanotechnology; Refractive index changes, crystalline network defects, topographic changes induced by electrical or magnetic fields or temperature changes, surface corrosion, surface cleaning, wetability,...
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--Sancar Eser--
