Patent ID: 7609391
Filing Date: 2009-10-27
Classification: G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. An optical system, comprising: a substrate adapted for supporting a sample, the substrate having a refractive index, n a source of electromagnetic radiation having wavelength, λ a detector having multiple individual detector elements configured for detecting a signal resulting from an interaction of the electromagnetic radiation with the sample; first dividing optical elements configured for dividing the electromagnetic radiation from the source into at least three substantially independent excitation beams; first directing optical elements configured for directing each excitation beam in a unique direction, k first control optical elements configured for controlling an electromagnetic field of each excitation beam such that a basis associated with the interfacial Bravais lattice comprises a substantially isolated excitation maximum in each primitive cell of the lattice substantially confined to a size less than a substrate wavelength, λ wherein the directions, k