Patent ID: 6522413
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for evaluating the characteristics of a sample comprising:an intensity modulated pump laser beam, said pump laser beam being directed to a spot on the surface of the sample for periodically exciting the sample; an optical probe including a probe laser beam for monitoring the modulated response of the sample to said periodic excitation and generating first output signals in response thereto; a broadband polychromatic light source for generating a polychromatic probe beam, said polychromatic probe beam being directed to a spot on the surface of the sample and is reflected therefrom; a detector for measuring the reflected polychromatic probe beam and generating a plurality of second output signals corresponding to a plurality of different wavelengths within the polychromatic probe beam; and a processor for evaluating the characteristics of the sample based on a combination of both the first and second output signals.