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Updated: May 1, 2026

Three-dimensional Optical-resolution Photoacoustic Microscopy
Published on: May 3, 2011
A scanning acoustic microscope based on picosecond ultrasonics
S Che1, P R Guduru2, A V Nurmikko3
1Department of Physics, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States.
Abstract:
We report on the development of a new type of scanning acoustic microscope. We use a femtosecond light pulse to generate a short sound pulse, and then focus this sound onto the sample by means of a specially designed and microfabricated acoustic lens of radius a few microns. The sound travels to the sample through a thin layer of water. The sound reflected from the sample is collected by the lens and then passes through a monolithically integrated optical resonant cavity. The induced change in the properties of this cavity are measured using a time-delayed probe light pulse. We describe some of the challenges involved in the construction and operation of this high-precision metrology apparatus and present some preliminary results.
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