Patent ID: 7894070
Filing Date: 2011-02-22
Classification: G01B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for characterizing a sample having a structure disposed on or within said sample comprising the steps of: applying a first pulse of light to a surface of the sample to excite the structure into a vibration in at least one normal mode of vibration of said sample; applying a second pulse of light to said surface; sensing from a reflection of said second pulse a change in a transient optical response of said sample; relating said change in the transient optical response to an oscillatory component of the vibration; and comparing a result of a computer simulation of the vibration of the sample to the oscillatory component of the vibration associated with the sensed change in the transient optical response, where the computer simulation is generated with a set of physical parameters; iteratively adjusting the set of physical parameters and creating a new computer simulation of the vibration of the sample based on the adjusted set of physical parameters until the result of the computer simulation agrees satisfactorily with the oscillatory component of the vibration associated with the sensed change in the transient optical response; associating the set of physical parameters used to create the result of the computer simulation which agrees satisfactorily with the oscillatory component of the vibration associated with the sensed change to at least one physical parameter of the structure.