Patent ID: 6034776
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
An apparatus for differentiating between sources of light scattering from the surface of a sample, comprising:means for supporting and positioning the sample;means for generating a monochromatic beam of polarized light;means for directing said beam of light onto a region of interest on the sample surface incident at an oblique angle thereto, such that said light is scattered in a plurality of directions;a collection system for simultaneously receiving light from said beam after scattering from said sample surface region in said plurality of directions, said collection system comprising means for independently measuring the full polarization state of the scattered light received by said collection system from each direction of scattering; andprocessing means for correlating characteristics of said scattered light with characteristics of said sample surface region; andwherein said means for independently measuring the full polarization state of the scattered light received by said collection system comprises a polarizer to filter out light scattered by a selected scatter mechanism.