Patent ID: 7777883
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A system comprising: a source of a beam of electromagnetic radiation; an anisotropic sample; a means for supporting an anisotropic sample; and a detector of said beam of electromagnetic radiation; wherein said means for supporting an anisotropic sample is present under said anisotropic sample near the location thereof whereat, during use, a beam of electromagnetic radiation provided by said source thereof is caused to impinge thereupon at an oblique or normal angle of incidence; said means for supporting an anisotropic sample and said anisotropic sample being characterized by a selection from the group consisting of: both having substantially matched indices of refraction; and the anisotropic sample having a material present at the interface between it and the means for supporting an anisotropic sample which is substantially index matched to that of said anisotropic sample; said system being characterized in that substantially uniform optical contact between the sample and the index matching material is achieved such that electromagnetic radiation which enters the index matched material becomes scattered and/or absorbed before exiting said index matched material and does not significantly reflect back out of said sample to mingle with electromagnetic radiation reflected from the incident, front, surface of said sample.