Description

Anasys Instruments, the world leader in nanoscale IR spectroscopy, announces the Mirage IR Microscope, changing the field of IR spectroscopy by solving two of the biggest problems facing the field of IR microscopy, achieving submicron spatial resolution and measurement of thick samples in reflection mode without the contact limitations of ATR, and without dispersive artifacts. Mirage achieves sub-micron spatial resolution IR imaging and spectroscopy, with a spatial resolution improvement of over 20X. Mirage works on the principle of photothermal IR spectroscopy (PTIR) providing transmission quality FTIR spectra, even in reflection mode. Using PTIR eliminates another longstanding limitation for IR microscopy, namely the inability to work on thick samples. The Mirage allows IR spectroscopy of surfaces without the contact limitations of ATR, thus expanding IR to many new applications. The Mirage obtains IR spectroscopy of surfaces on thick samples in a non-contact way. It enables faster time to data, and cost of ownership improvements while providing correlation to industry standard FTIR databases. The new Mirage IR microscope overcomes the IR diffraction limit by combining a pulsed tunable laser with a proprietary optical technique measuring photothermal response of the sample in a fast, easy to use manner. Mirage relies on the decade of expertise in photothermal physics that Anasys has built up since starting the research on their AFM based nanoscale IR spectroscopy platform. Dr. Curt Marcott, former Research Fellow at P&G and one of the world-renowned experts in IR Spectroscopy, stated that “Having been personally involved with some of the major advances in IR over the last 40 years, I believe that photothermal IR spectroscopy via the Mirage product might very well be the biggest advance in the field of IR that I’ve seen in my lifetime. I believe that this will substantially expand the scope of problems that can be addressed by IR spectroscopy “. “I am incredibly proud of our team at Anasys for this major accomplishment. We were able to leverage our extensive experience and in photothermal physics and close collaborations with world class research labs to develop a product that breaks the fundamental spatial resolution limit of conventional FTIR microscopes and provides an easy to use product that we feel will solve important problems in research and industry,” stated Dr. Craig Prater, CTO of Anasys, who led the technology development effort for the Mirage product. “Our new proprietary measurement technique provides wavelength independent, true sub-micron spatial resolution for both spectroscopy and imaging. Mirage also uniquely provides transmission FTIR quality spectra in reflection, benefitting users by enabling measurement on thick samples, minimizing sample preparation and improving turnaround times.” For more Information, contact Anasys Instruments, Santa Barbara, CA, website: www.anasysinstruments.com, Email: info@anasysinstruments.com, PH: 805-730-3310