Thermal Lens Microscopy: Characterization and Optimization

摘要

Thermal lens microscopy (TLM) is a highly sensitive photothermal technique, and has found various applications in chemical analysis, especially when it is combined with lab-on-a-chip chemistry. In this paper, we analyze a couple of key characteristics of TLM, and give suggestions for optimization of the system for higher detection sensitivity, lower noise, lower irradiation density and/or better temporal and spatial resolutions. This will advance the development of TLM instrument for different chemical and biochemical analyses.