Light microscopy began with thedevelopment of single opticallenses for magnification. The
first compound instrument with
two lenses is credited to Hans
Jansen and his son Zacharias in
1595. Galileo Galilei used histelescope as a microscope.
Robert Hooke constructed an
instrument with several lenses
and was the first to identify cells,
seeing them in cork, though hedidn‘t realize their significance.
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek wasa gifted lens producer: heachieved a 270x magnification
with his microscope.

1957

Ernst Abbe defined thediffraction limit for amicroscope, known as theAbbe limit. Together withCarl Zeiss and Otto Schotthe laid the foundation formodern optics.

Marvin Minsky (Inventor), Ameter & Levy (Attorneys)
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Foto: Deutsches Optisches Museum (D.O.M.), Jena

25 YEARSIN FOCUSEARLY DAYS OF MICROSCOPY

SPECTROMETRY
Spectrometers split light into
spectral lines. The simplest
spectrometer is a glass prism.
In the early 19th century Joseph
von Fraunhofer developed
spectrometers into highly
precise measuring tools using
diffraction gratings, after
Augustin-Jean Fresnel andThomas Young had discovered
the principles of diffraction.
Diffraction gratings consist ofperiodic structures that disperse
light into several beams at
different angles dependent on

CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY

1595

Marvin Minsky developed thebasic concept of confocal
microscopy, which he patented
in 1957. Using a pinhole, only
light from the focal plane enters
the detector. Blocking the outof-focus light provides images

THE RAMAN PRINCIPLE
wavelength. Gratings with ahigher number of grooves perunit of length will show agreater dispersion, that is, alarger angle between different
wavelengths followingdiffraction.

Some photons in light scattered by amaterial exhibit a shift in wavelength that
depends on the incident wavelength andthe material‘s properties. This phenomenon
was named the Raman effect after its
discoverer, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata
Raman. As this reaction is a result ofinelastic scattering by the molecular bondsof the exposed material, each molecule andchemical compound produces a unique
Raman spectrum from which it can beidentified. Furthermore, a Raman spectrum
contains information on the quantity of aspecific compound, the degree ofcrystallinity, crystal symmetry andorientation and the presence of stress.

SourceGrating

Mirrors

Detectorwith higher resolution andcontrast than classical wide-fieldmicroscopy. By acquiring multiple
images of a transparent sample
along its z-axis, this techniqueenables its visualization in threedimensions.

1815

1928

25 YEARSIN FOCUS

Light microscopy began with thedevelopment of single opticallenses for magnification. The
first compound instrument with
two lenses is credited to Hans
Jansen and his son Zacharias in1595. Galileo Galilei used histelescope as a microscope.
Robert Hooke constructed aninstrument with several lenses
and was the first to identify cells,
seeing them in cork, though hedidn‘t realize their significance.
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek wasa gifted lens producer: heachieved a 270x magnification
with his microscope.

1957

Ernst Abbe defined thediffraction limit for a
microscope, known as theAbbe limit. Together with
Carl Zeiss and Otto Schotthe laid the foundation formodern optics.

Marvin Minsky (Inventor), Ameter & Levy (Attorneys)
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Foto: Deutsches Optisches Museum (D.O.M.), Jena

25 YEARSIN FOCUSEARLY DAYS OF MICROSCOPY

SPECTROMETRY
Spectrometers split light into
spectral lines. The simplest
spectrometer is a glass prism.
In the early 19th century Joseph
von Fraunhofer developed
spectrometers into highly
precise measuring tools using
diffraction gratings, after
Augustin-Jean Fresnel andThomas Young had discovered
the principles of diffraction.
Diffraction gratings consist ofperiodic structures that disperse
light into several beams atdifferent angles dependent on

CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY

1595

Marvin Minsky developed thebasic concept of confocal
microscopy, which he patentedin 1957. Using a pinhole, only
light from the focal plane enters
the detector. Blocking the outof-focus light provides images

THE RAMAN PRINCIPLE
wavelength. Gratings with ahigher number of grooves perunit of length will show agreater dispersion, that is, alarger angle between different
wavelengths following
diffraction.

Some photons in light scattered by amaterial exhibit a shift in wavelength that
depends on the incident wavelength andthe material‘s properties. This phenomenon
was named the Raman effect after its
discoverer, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata
Raman. As this reaction is a result of
inelastic scattering by the molecular bondsof the exposed material, each molecule andchemical compound produces a unique
Raman spectrum from which it can beidentified. Furthermore, a Raman spectrum
contains information on the quantity of a
specific compound, the degree ofcrystallinity, crystal symmetry andorientation and the presence of stress.

SourceGrating

Mirrors

Detectorwith higher resolution andcontrast than classical wide-fieldmicroscopy. By acquiring multiple
images of a transparent sample
along its z-axis, this techniqueenables its visualization in threedimensions.

1815

1928

25 YEARSIN FOCUS

Light microscopy began with thedevelopment of single opticallenses for magnification. The
first compound instrument with
two lenses is credited to Hans
Jansen and his son Zacharias in1595. Galileo Galilei used histelescope as a microscope.
Robert Hooke constructed an
instrument with several lenses
and was the first to identify cells,
seeing them in cork, though hedidn‘t realize their significance.
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek wasa gifted lens producer: heachieved a 270x magnification
with his microscope.

1957

Ernst Abbe defined thediffraction limit for amicroscope, known as theAbbe limit. Together withCarl Zeiss and Otto Schotthe laid the foundation formodern optics.

Marvin Minsky (Inventor), Ameter & Levy (Attorneys)
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Foto: Deutsches Optisches Museum (D.O.M.), Jena

25 YEARSIN FOCUSEARLY DAYS OF MICROSCOPY

SPECTROMETRY
Spectrometers split light into
spectral lines. The simplest
spectrometer is a glass prism.
In the early 19th century Josephvon Fraunhofer developed
spectrometers into highly
precise measuring tools using
diffraction gratings, after
Augustin-Jean Fresnel andThomas Young had discovered
the principles of diffraction.
Diffraction gratings consist of
periodic structures that disperse
light into several beams at
different angles dependent on

CONFOCAL MICROSCOPY

1595

Marvin Minsky developed thebasic concept of confocal
microscopy, which he patented
in 1957. Using a pinhole, only
light from the focal plane enters
the detector. Blocking the outof-focus light provides images

THE RAMAN PRINCIPLE
wavelength. Gratings with ahigher number of grooves perunit of length will show agreater dispersion, that is, alarger angle between different
wavelengths following
diffraction.

Some photons in light scattered by amaterial exhibit a shift in wavelength that
depends on the incident wavelength andthe material‘s properties. This phenomenon
was named the Raman effect after its
discoverer, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata
Raman. As this reaction is a result of
inelastic scattering by the molecular bondsof the exposed material, each molecule andchemical compound produces a unique
Raman spectrum from which it can beidentified. Furthermore, a Raman spectrum
contains information on the quantity of a
specific compound, the degree ofcrystallinity, crystal symmetry andorientation and the presence of stress.

SourceGrating

Mirrors

Detectorwith higher resolution andcontrast than classical wide-fieldmicroscopy. By acquiring multiple
images of a transparent sample
along its z-axis, this techniqueenables its visualization in threedimensions.

1815

1928

25 YEARSIN FOCUS

25 YEARS OF EVOLUTIONIN RAMAN IMAGING AT WITEC
We were three physicists who met by chanceat the University of Ulm and decided tobecome entrepreneurs. 1997 was the year:
we founded WITec. “We” means Dr. OlafHollricher, Dr. Joachim Koenen and Dr. Klaus
Weishaupt. Our first products were a
Scanning Near-field Optical Microscope(SNOM) and Pulsed Force Mode (PFM)
control electronics. SNOM enables optical
microscopy with spatial resolution beyond
the diffraction limit. PFM is a non-resonantintermittent contact method that is used
for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).

Thus already our first instrument enabled
high-resolution correlative microscopy as it
combined SNOM and AFM in a new,innovative manner in a single instrument.
It is still being used by its launch customer
at the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign.
We chose “Focus Innovations” for thecompany‘s maxim because that‘s what we
aspired to achieve as a company developing
new scientific instruments. It turned out tobe a good decision: since then, the company
has stayed true to this ethos and become
the primary technology leader in Raman
microscopy and a world-renowned
manufacturer of confocal and correlative
Raman imaging systems.

19971999

1999 – We pioneer Ramanimaging and introduced ouralpha300 R. It was the first
Raman imaging microscope
to be confocal and wassubstantially faster than
any conventional system.

2003 – We initiate correlative
Raman imaging/Atomic ForceMicroscopy (AFM) imaging by
integrating two microscopes
within one instrument. The result
was our alpha300 RA, the first
instrument worldwide capableof applying both techniques on asample without transferring it.

2008

2008 – We receive the R&D 100 Awardfor our alpha500 RA system, that enables
automated, correlative Raman imagingand AFM. Through 2022, twelve moreawards for our products will follow.

2014

2015

2018

2019

2021 – Ice cold: WITec and attocube systems
AG launch a hot device – cryoRaman
for Raman imaging at very lowtemperatures.

2022

2022 – We celebrate our 25th anniversary.
The company, now with 85 wonderfully
smart and committed employees, has
step by step become recognized as thehome of innovation in Raman imaging
and correlative microscopy.
In 2021 we became part of the Oxford
Instruments Group. Joining this revered
UK-based technology company enhanced
our reach and resources while preserving
our technological agility and closeconnection to the research community.
Our customers can look forward to new,exciting products as WITec continues tochart the course ahead for Raman
microscopy.

2010 – We market TrueSurface, a new
optical profilometer, and pave the way
for topographic Raman imaging.

2003 20102014 – We do it again: we merge two
microscopes. This time we combine Raman
imaging with Scanning Electron Microscopy.
Through the new RISE (Raman Imaging andScanning Electron) microscope, ultrastructural surface properties can be linked
to molecular compound information.

2015 – With our new alpha300
apyron, we redefine what is
expected of a “fully automated”
Raman microscope.

2018 – In this year, we turned
everything upside down.
The result was the alpha300 Ri
inverted confocal Raman
microscope.

2019 – On the trail of microparticles:With ParticleScout we use Raman
spectroscopy to find, classify andidentify particles on the micro- andnanoscale.

2021

25 YEARS OF EVOLUTIONIN RAMAN IMAGING AT WITEC
We were three physicists who met by chanceat the University of Ulm and decided tobecome entrepreneurs. 1997 was the year:
we founded WITec. “We” means Dr. Olaf
Hollricher, Dr. Joachim Koenen and Dr. Klaus
Weishaupt. Our first products were a
Scanning Near-field Optical Microscope(SNOM) and Pulsed Force Mode (PFM)
control electronics. SNOM enables optical
microscopy with spatial resolution beyond
the diffraction limit. PFM is a non-resonantintermittent contact method that is used
for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).

Thus already our first instrument enabled
high-resolution correlative microscopy as it
combined SNOM and AFM in a new,innovative manner in a single instrument.
It is still being used by its launch customerat the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign.
We chose “Focus Innovations” for thecompany‘s maxim because that‘s what we
aspired to achieve as a company developing
new scientific instruments. It turned out tobe a good decision: since then, the company
has stayed true to this ethos and become
the primary technology leader in Raman
microscopy and a world-renowned
manufacturer of confocal and correlative
Raman imaging systems.

1997

1999

1999 – We pioneer Raman
imaging and introduced ouralpha300 R. It was the first
Raman imaging microscope
to be confocal and wassubstantially faster than
any conventional system.

2003 – We initiate correlative
Raman imaging/Atomic ForceMicroscopy (AFM) imaging by
integrating two microscopes
within one instrument. The result
was our alpha300 RA, the first
instrument worldwide capableof applying both techniques on asample without transferring it.

2008

2008 – We receive the R&D 100 Awardfor our alpha500 RA system, that enables
automated, correlative Raman imagingand AFM. Through 2022, twelve moreawards for our products will follow.

2014

2015

2018

2019

2021 – Ice cold: WITec and attocube systems
AG launch a hot device – cryoRaman
for Raman imaging at very low
temperatures.

2022

2022 – We celebrate our 25th anniversary.
The company, now with 85 wonderfully
smart and committed employees, has
step by step become recognized as thehome of innovation in Raman imaging
and correlative microscopy.
In 2021 we became part of the Oxford
Instruments Group. Joining this revered
UK-based technology company enhanced
our reach and resources while preserving
our technological agility and close
connection to the research community.
Our customers can look forward to new,exciting products as WITec continues tochart the course ahead for Raman
microscopy.

2010 – We market TrueSurface, a new
optical profilometer, and pave the way
for topographic Raman imaging.

2003 20102014 – We do it again: we merge twomicroscopes. This time we combine Raman
imaging with Scanning Electron Microscopy.
Through the new RISE (Raman Imaging andScanning Electron) microscope, ultrastructural surface properties can be linked
to molecular compound information.

2015 – With our new alpha300
apyron, we redefine what is
expected of a “fully automated”
Raman microscope.

2018 – In this year, we turnedeverything upside down.
The result was the alpha300 Ri
inverted confocal Raman
microscope.

2019 – On the trail of microparticles:With ParticleScout we use Raman
spectroscopy to find, classify andidentify particles on the micro- andnanoscale.

2021

25 YEARS OF EVOLUTIONIN RAMAN IMAGING AT WITEC
We were three physicists who met by chanceat the University of Ulm and decided tobecome entrepreneurs. 1997 was the year:
we founded WITec. “We” means Dr. Olaf
Hollricher, Dr. Joachim Koenen and Dr. Klaus
Weishaupt. Our first products were a
Scanning Near-field Optical Microscope(SNOM) and Pulsed Force Mode (PFM)
control electronics. SNOM enables optical
microscopy with spatial resolution beyond
the diffraction limit. PFM is a non-resonantintermittent contact method that is used
for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).

Thus already our first instrument enabled
high-resolution correlative microscopy as it
combined SNOM and AFM in a new,innovative manner in a single instrument.
It is still being used by its launch customer
at the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign.
We chose “Focus Innovations” for thecompany‘s maxim because that‘s what we
aspired to achieve as a company developing
new scientific instruments. It turned out tobe a good decision: since then, the company
has stayed true to this ethos and become
the primary technology leader in Raman
microscopy and a world-renowned
manufacturer of confocal and correlative
Raman imaging systems.

1997

1999

1999 – We pioneer Raman
imaging and introduced ouralpha300 R. It was the first
Raman imaging microscope
to be confocal and wassubstantially faster than
any conventional system.

2003 – We initiate correlative
Raman imaging/Atomic ForceMicroscopy (AFM) imaging by
integrating two microscopes
within one instrument. The result
was our alpha300 RA, the first
instrument worldwide capableof applying both techniques on asample without transferring it.

2008

2008 – We receive the R&D 100 Awardfor our alpha500 RA system, that enables
automated, correlative Raman imagingand AFM. Through 2022, twelve moreawards for our products will follow.

2014

2015

2018

2019

2021 – Ice cold: WITec and attocube systems
AG launch a hot device – cryoRaman
for Raman imaging at very lowtemperatures.

2022

2022 – We celebrate our 25th anniversary.
The company, now with 85 wonderfully
smart and committed employees, has
step by step become recognized as thehome of innovation in Raman imaging
and correlative microscopy.
In 2021 we became part of the Oxford
Instruments Group. Joining this revered
UK-based technology company enhanced
our reach and resources while preserving
our technological agility and close
connection to the research community.
Our customers can look forward to new,exciting products as WITec continues tochart the course ahead for Raman
microscopy.

2010 – We market TrueSurface, a new
optical profilometer, and pave the way
for topographic Raman imaging.

2003 20102014 – We do it again: we merge two
microscopes. This time we combine Raman
imaging with Scanning Electron Microscopy.
Through the new RISE (Raman Imaging andScanning Electron) microscope, ultrastructural surface properties can be linked
to molecular compound information.

2015 – With our new alpha300
apyron, we redefine what isexpected of a “fully automated”
Raman microscope.

2018 – In this year, we turned
everything upside down.
The result was the alpha300 Ri
inverted confocal Raman
microscope.

2019 – On the trail of microparticles:With ParticleScout we use Raman
spectroscopy to find, classify andidentify particles on the micro- andnanoscale.

2021