Patent ID: 9041931
Filing Date: 2015-05-26
Classification: B82Y,G01N,G01Q

Abstract:
1. A noncontact optical system for the analysis of surface acoustic waves comprising: at least one pump element optically coupled to a first illumination source, the pump element being oriented to direct illumination from the first illumination source onto a substrate so as to induces a surface acoustic wave in the substrate; the first illumination source providing illumination to the substrate through the at least one pump element to induce a surface acoustic wave in the substrate; at least one probe element optically coupled to a second illumination source and to a photodetector, the at least one probe element being oriented to direct illumination from the second illumination source to the substrate and to conduct at least a portion of light returned from the substrate to the photodetector; a time delay element optical coupled between the second illumination source and the probe element, the time delay element operable to vary a time delay between the illumination of the substrate by the first illumination source via the at least one pump element and the illumination of the substrate by the second illumination source via the at least one probe element; and, a processor coupled to the photodetector, the processor adapted to determine at least one substrate characteristic based at least in part on an output of the photodetector; wherein the at least one pump element and the at least one probe element are nanolight elements; and wherein a beam of light emitted from the at least one pump element and the at least one probe element experiences diffraction that is less than d=λ/2n sin α.