JPS5833299A - Ultrasonic microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an acoustic lens suitable for use in a microscope that utilizes high frequency sound wave energy.

In recent years, it has become possible to generate and detect high frequencies up to IGH2, resulting in a sound wave wavelength of approximately 1 micron underwater, and therefore, a microscope that utilizes sound wave energy has been considered.

The configuration of such an ultrasonic microscope is shown in FIG.

Nine high-voltage pulses 2 generated from a pulse oscillator 1 are applied to a piezoelectric material 4 formed on the upper surface of a spherical lens 3 by vapor deposition or the like. This piezoelectric material 4 is excited by the high voltage pulse 2 and generates ultrasonic waves. This ultrasonic wave propagates through the spherical lens 3 and is narrowly focused by a concave portion provided on the other end surface. This ultrasonic beam is irradiated via the medium 5 onto the surface of a sample 6 (placed on a sample stage 10) which is being mechanically scanned in two dimensions. The sound waves reflected from the sample 6 are received by the same spherical lens 3, converted into electrical signals by the receiver 7, and displayed on the screen of the CFLT 8 in synchronization with the scanning of the scanning device 9 of the sample stage 10. can do.

When using this type of ultrasound microscope, sound waves propagate even in optically opaque objects, allowing us to understand their internal structures. Furthermore, it is attracting attention as a new observation device because it can depict the fine structure of an object that reflects its physical properties such as elasticity, density, and viscosity, allowing it to obtain information that is not possible with other microscopes.

When observing a sample using the ultrasonic microscope configured as described above, observation may be difficult if the sample is a substance that reacts, swells, or dissolves in the medium 5 (for example, water). It's impossible.

The present invention has been developed in view of this point, and is characterized in that the surface of the sample is coated with a thin film so that the medium 5 does not come into direct contact with the observation substance.

Hereinafter, the lpm of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the sample 6 attached to the top surface of the sample stage 10. By applying the coating material 11 on the surface of the sample 6, the above-mentioned problem can be solved. The coating material 11 used here is, for example, a solution prepared by mixing 2% neoprene in a toluene solution. When this solution is dropped onto the sample surface, it quickly diffuses on the sample surface, forming a thin film of several hundred to several thousand layers. This thin film can be uniformly coated without damaging the shape of the sample surface.

By using the covering material to prevent the medium from coming into direct contact with the sample, it is possible to easily observe substances that are easily dissolved or swelled.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of an ultrasound microscope. ￥J　2　Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A sonic microscope that detects sonic energy disturbed by a means for generating a sonic beam, an acoustic lens that focuses the sonic beam at a predetermined focus, and an object placed near the focal point. 4. Applying a water-resistant thin film to the surface of the object! Ultrasonic microscope with J characteristics.