Santa Barbara, California – Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp 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 Optical Photothermal IR (O-PTIR) spectroscopy providing transmission quality FTIR spectra, even in reflection mode.

Using O-PTIR eliminates another longstanding limitation for IR microscopy, namely the inability to work on thick samples. mIRage allows IR spectroscopy of surfaces without the contact limitations of ATR, thus expanding IR to many new applications. mIRage obtains IR spectroscopy of surfaces on thick samples in a non-contact method. It enables faster time to data, and cost of ownership improvements while providing correlation to industry standard FTIR databases.

mIRage 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 Instruments, the company that preceded Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp, and its collaborators have 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 “.

Dr. Craig Prater, CTO of Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp, who led the technology development effort for the Mirage product, said: “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.”

 

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About Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp

Photothermal Spectroscopy Corp (PSC) is a spin-off from Anasys Instruments Corp, the company that pioneered the field of AFM-based photothermal IR spectroscopy (PTIR) and was eventually acquired by Bruker Nano. PSC now has a breakthrough optical PTIR (O-PTIR) technology that eliminates two fundamental problems with IR Spectroscopy: spatial resolution limitations, and sample preparation. O-PTIR provides sub-micron spatial resolution for IR and provides transmission FTIR quality spectra in non-contact reflection mode. O-PTIR provides all the benefits of ATR without contact-related limitations, and also provides Raman-like spatial resolution, but with IR sensitivity. PSC’s vision is to enable the power of IR spectroscopy to be applied to high value problems in industry and academia via the adoption of O-PTIR.

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About mIRage®

The mIRage IR microscope provides true sub-micron IR spatial resolution imaging and spectroscopy using Optical Photothermal IR (O-PTIR) spectroscopy, a proprietary technique. mIRage provides wavelength independent spatial resolution, highly sensitive IR measurements and transmission quality absorption spectra in refection mode. mIRage bridges the gap between conventional IR microspectroscopy and AFM-based nanoscale IR spectroscopy.