摘要:
Samples such as thin polymeric films are analyzed using optically induced phonons by excitation of the sample using radiation preferably absorbed by the sample and probe radiation, preferably not absorbed by the sample, that is diffracted from the surface of the sample. The pulse width of the probe is preferably on the order of the detectable diffraction signal so that the phonon decay from each excitation pulse can be detected and analyzed. The technique is applicable to various samples by inducing a ripple morphology on the sample surface and detection of light diffracted substantially from surface ripple.
摘要:
Anisotropic mechanical properties of thin films are measured by exciting time-dependent waveguide acoustic modes in the thin film sample with a pair of excitation pulses from an excitation laser. The waveguide acoustic modes are then optically detected by diffracting a probe laser beam off the excited modes. The probe beam is detected to generate an electronic signal. The anisotropic moduli and related properties in the film are determined by analyzing the electronic signal using a mathematical inversion procedure.
摘要:
A method for determining the thickness of a thin sample is described. The method includes the step of exciting time-dependent acoustic waveguide modes in the sample with an excitation radiation field. The acoustic waveguide modes are detected by diffracting probe radiation off a ripple morphology induced on the sample's surface by the acoustic waveguide modes. The diffracted probe radiation is then analyzed to measure phase velocities or frequencies of the acoustic waveguide modes. A thickness of the thin sample is determined by comparing the measured phase velocities or frequencies to the phase velocities or frequencies calculated from a mathematical model.
摘要:
A method for determining the thickness of a thin sample is described. The method includes the step of exciting time-dependent acoustic waveguide modes in the sample with an excitation radiation field. The acoustic waveguide modes are detected by diffracting probe radiation off a ripple morphology induced on the sample's surface by the acoustic waveguide modes. The diffracted probe radiation is then analyzed to measure phase velocities or frequencies of the acoustic waveguide modes. A thickness of the thin sample is determined by comparing the measured phase velocities or frequencies to the phase velocities or frequencies calculated from a mathematical model.
摘要:
A method for determining the residual stress in an unsupported region of a thin film. The method includes the steps of (a) optically exciting the film with a spatially and temporally varying optical excitation field to launch counter-propagating acoustic modes along at least one wavevector; (b) diffracting a portion of an optical probe field off the excited acoustic modes to generate a time-dependent signal field at the excitation wavevector; (c) detecting the signal field to generate a time-dependent, light-induced signal; (d) analyzing the light-induced signal to determine the frequencies of the acoustic modes; (e) partially determining the dispersion of at least one mode; and, (f) comparing the measured dispersion to that calculated using a mathematical model to allow the residual stress properties of the unsupported region of the film to be determined.
摘要:
An apparatus for measuring a property of a structure comprising at least one layer, the appratus including a light source that produces an optical pulse having a duration of less than 10 ps; a diffractive element that receives the optical pulse and diffracts it to generate at least two excitation pulses; an optical system that spatially and temporally overlaps at least two excitation pulses on or in the structure to form an excitation pattern, containing at least two light regions, that launches an acoustic wave having an out-of-plane component that propagates through the layer, reflects off a lower boundary of the layer, and returns to a surface of the structure to modulate a property of the structure; a light source that produces a probe pulse that diffracts off the modulated property to generate at least one signal pulse; a detector that receives at least one signal pulse and in response generates a light-induced electrical signal; and an analyzer that analyzes the light-induced electrical signal to measure the property of the structure.
摘要:
An optical modulating system which allows modulation of a single light beam with a spatially filtering mask to form a spatially periodic, time-dependent excitation field. Once generated, the field can be used to induce a transient grating in a sample. The optical modulating system is additionally configured to automatically orient a probe beam at the Bragg angle, thereby allowing the intensity of the probe beam diffracted off the induced grating to be maximized. Measurement of the diffracted probe beam allows, for example, determination of mechanical, thermal, electrical, and optical properties of the sample.
摘要:
The invention provides both a method and apparatus that measures a property of a structure that includes at least one layer. The apparatus features a laser (e.g., a microchip laser, described below) that generates an optical pulse, and a diffractive mask that receives the optical pulse and diffracts it to generate at least two excitation pulses. An optical system, (e.g., an achromat lens pair) receives the optical pulses and spatially and temporally overlaps them on or in the structure to form an excitation pattern that launches an acoustic wave. The acoustic wave modulates a property of the structure, e.g., it generates a time-dependent “surface ripple” or modulates an optical property such as the sample's refractive index or absorption coefficient. Surface ripple is defined as a time-dependent change in the morphology of the surface; its peak-to-null amplitude is typically a few angstroms or less. The apparatus also includes a light source that produces a probe beam that reflects off the modulated property to generate a signal beam. An optical detection system receives the reflected signal beam and in response generates a light-induced electrical signal. An analyzer analyzes the signal to measure the property of the structure.
摘要:
The invention features a method for detecting a subsurface defect in a thin film structure. The method includes: optically generating an acoustic wave in a first spatial region of the film; optically measuring a time-dependent reflection of the acoustic wave from subsurface features in the film to produce a time-dependent signal; and analyzing the signal to detect an existence of the defect. The optically measuring step can include measuring the diffraction of a probe beam from the reflected acoustic wave. The analyzing step can include comparing the measured signal to a reference signal for defect-free structure.
摘要:
A method for determining the thickness of a thin sample is described. The method includes the step of exciting time-dependent acoustic waveguide modes in the sample with an excitation radiation field. The acoustic waveguide modes are detected by diffracting probe radiation off a ripple morphology induced on the sample's surface by the acoustic waveguide modes. The diffracted probe radiation is then analyzed to measure phase velocities or frequencies of the acoustic waveguide modes. A thickness of the thin sample is determined by comparing the measured phase velocities or frequencies to the phase velocities or frequencies calculated from a mathematical model.