_brewster angle microscope

nanofilm_ep3bam

ABSTRACT

Since its first presentation at the LB6 conference in Par-is, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) has been established as a worldwide standard tech-nique for the investigation of ultra-thin organic films.

Nanofilm’s BAM1 was the first commercially available Brew-ster angle microscope. Based on this innovation we devel-oped the nanofilm_ep3bam by using the imaging ellipso-meter platform ep3 to enable the upgradability to a com-plete imaging ellipsometer.

The nanofilm_ep3bam software toolbox includes a special image processing tool and an integrated solution for quantitative analytical Brew-ster Angle Microscopy. Fur-thermore, if your thin film metrology neets expand, the nanofilm_ep3bam can be up-graded to a complete imaging ellipsometer without losing any of the functionalities of a Brewster angle microscope.

Please compare the nano-film_ep3bam with the nano-film_ultrabam and select the suitable instrument for your application.

The capability to integrate troughs and other equipment from the leading companies in the LB-market results in a complete analytical environ-ment to correlate the images of your ultrathin organic films, especially at the air-water interface, with a large range of surface chemical and physical properties.

FEATURES

• Real time contrast image• Automatic Z tracking to follow changing water levels

• AVI recorder to create AVI videos during experiments

• Scripting language EP3 Script for automation, eg. automatic recording of images at predefined time intervals

• Analysis tools for analyti-cal BAM (film thickness mea-surements by BAM)

• Remote control of the in-strument possible due to LAN connection for applica-tion support or the use in a closed environment

• Software interface to NIMA or KSV and the new KSVNIMA troughs.

Brewster angle microscopenanofilm_ep3bam

BENEFiTS • Highest lateral resolu-tion in the field of Brew-ster Angle Microscopy

• Real time imaging: direct visualization of your sample – you see what you are doing

• BAM tools offering quanti-tative BAM, level control and powerful background correction tools

• As a unique feature of the Accurion goniometer design, there are no bearings or mechanical mounts in the axis of rotation => free space for even large LB-troughs or space consuming sam-ples

Nanofilm_ep3bam with Langmuir trough

APPLiCATioNS

• Monolayer phases• Domains and order phenomena• Transformation of monolayer

into multilayered structures• Photochemical reactions

e.g., photoisomerization• LB-films on solid structures• Influences of various sub-

phase compositions(counter ions) on monolayer struc-tures

• Polymers and other materi-als that cannot be detected by fluorescence microscopy

• Adsorption kinetics• In-situ polymerization in

monolayers• Phase separation• Quality and homogeneity of

LB-films

Technical specificationsnanofilm_ep3bam

_TEChNiCAL SPECiFiCATioNS

TyPE: Brewster Angle Microscope

OPEN-fRAME SET-uP: Basic aluminium frame construction for optical unit, separate electronics box

IMAgINg OPTIcS: To achieve high-resolution real-time focussed images, the nanofilm_ep3 is equipped with an automatic focus scanner.

LIgHT SOuRcES: 658 nm broadband laser (class IIIb), other laser on request IMAgINg SySTEM: 768 x 572 pixel ccD camera with variable shutter timings and gain control

MOTORIZED gONIOMETER: Patented motorized SOfTWARE cONTROLLED goniometer Angle-of-incidence range: 38–90 deg. Angle resolution: 0.001 deg. Absolute angle accuracy: 0.01 deg. Speed of motion: ~ 5 deg./sec.

MOTORIZED Z-LIfT: Enables automatic levelling for measurements on troughs Travel range: > 40 mm Travel speed: approx. 0.5 mm/sec.

_ELECTRoNiCS

- Embedded controller with Matrox Meteor II frame grabber - Embedded Linux operating system (internal only) - communication with host Pc via dedicated 100 Mbit Ethernet.

POWER SuPPLy: Voltage: 100–240 V~, 50/60 Hz, max. current: 10 A

Pc AND MONITOR: up-to-date monitor and Windows Pc

NANoFiLM_EP3 SoFTwARE:

The nanofilm_ep3bam comes with easy-to-use, graphical user front end nanofilm-ep3view software packages.

AuTOMATION: - Powerful macro language nanofilm_ep3script allows the user to simplify complex measurements into push-button operation

- user-programmable function buttons - Software-controlled Z-stage)

IMAgE PROcESSINg: - focusScan for overall focused images - Real-time geometrical correction for angle-dependent image

aspectratios - Supported image formats: TIff, JPg, PNg - Digital zoom, profiler, 3D-viewer, Image browser and more image

processing tools

NANOfILM_EP3BAM TOOLS SOfTWARE 1.0: Tools for simple operation of the nanofilm_ep3 as a Brewster Angle Microscope to observe monolayers on liquid surfaces including: - BAM background correction - BAM calibration - BAM model - BAM kinetics

Technical specifications may change without notice. The ultrabam does not include the trough shown in the pictures.

Technical specificationsnanofilm_ep3bam

UPgRAdE PoSSiBiLiTiES • nanofilm_ep3: upgrade to any Nanofilm Imaging Ellipsometer

RECoMMENdEd ACCESSoRiES • Laser Safety cabinet and

dust protection• Active Vibration Isolation• choice of exchangeable objectives: 2 x, 5 x , 20 x objective

• ep3view Software Add Ons

• LB-Troughs • Package integration with various troughs

• Higher laser power avail-able or fiber coupling to external laser sources

• Integration of additional laser for time resolved experiments etc.

Domains of pentadecanoic acid in a monolayer on water

Easy modelling for BAM measurements

Overall focused BAM image without move correction

Efficient background correction for higher image quality

Overall focused BAM image with move correction

fast BAM calibration

Sphingomyelin monolayerMonolayer domains of racemic mixture of chiral phospholipids (D- and L-DPPc)Domains of palmitric acid

Europe:Accurion gmbHStresemannstrasse 30 37079 goettingen, germanyPhone: +49[0] 551.999 60.0fax: +49[0] 551.999 60.10E-Mail: info@accurion.comWeb: www.accurion.com

uSA:Accurion Inc.514 Progress Drive, Suite gLinthicum Heights, MD 21090Phone: +1[0] 410.636.3355 E-Mail: info@accurion.comWeb: www.accurion.com

India:Accurion Scientific Instruments Pvt. Ltd.Mr. Narayana Sharmaflat 307, S.S Residency29th Main, 2nd c crossBTM Layout, 1 Stage, 1 PhaseBangalore 560 068, IndiaMobile: +91[0] 98450.04273Phone: +91[0] 80.2668.9178