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Anisotropic Contrast Optical Microscope
Abstract
In this thesis, an optical microscope is described that reveals contrast in the Mueller matrix images of a thin, transparent or semi-transparent specimen located within an anisotropic object plane (anisotropic filter). The specimen changes the anisotropy of the filter and thereby produces contrast within the Mueller matrix images. Here we use an anisotropic filter composed of a semi-transparent, nanostructured thin film with sub-wavelength thickness placed within the object plane. The sample is illuminated as in common optical microscopy but the light is modulated in its polarization using combinations of linear polarizers and phase plate (compensator) to control and analyze the state of polarization. Direct generalized ellipsometry data analysis approaches permit extraction of fundamental Mueller matrix object plane images dispensing with the need of Fourier expansion methods. Generalized ellipsometry model approaches are used for quantitative image analyses. These images are obtained from sets of multiple images obtained under various polarizer, analyzer, and compensator settings. Up to 16 independent Mueller matrix images can be obtained, while our current setup is limited to 11 images normalized by the unpolarized intensity. We demonstrate the anisotropic contrast optical microscope by measuring lithographically defined micro-patterned anisotropic filters, and we quantify the adsorption of an organic self-assembled monolayer film onto the anisotropic filter. Comparison with an isotropic glass slide demonstrates the image enhancement obtained by this method over microscopy without use of an anisotropic filter. In the current instrument, the estimated limit of detection for organic volumetric mass within the object plane of ≈ 49 fg within ≈ 7×7 μm 2 object surface area. Compared to a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation instrumentation, where contemporary limits require a total load of ≈ 500 pg for detection, the instrumentation demonstrated here improves sensitivity to a total mass required for detection by 4 orders of magnitude. Design and operation principles of the anisotropic contrast optical microscope are detailed, and further applications to detection of nanoparticles, to novel approaches for imaging chromatography, and to new contrast modalities for observations on living cells are presented. Additionally, ACOM contrast improvement by a factor of two in reflection measurement mode in comparison to transmission acquisition mode is demonstrated.
Subject Area
Electrical engineering
Recommended Citation
Peev, Darin Ivanov, "Anisotropic Contrast Optical Microscope" (2018). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI10793752.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI10793752