What is a Infrared microscope?

"An infrared microscope is a type of optical microscope that can measure an object non-destructively and non-contactly using infrared rays. The function as a microscope is the same as that of a general optical microscope, but since infrared rays with a long wavelength are used as the light source, the spatial resolution is limited by the diffraction limit. However, substances often show a unique response to infrared rays, and spectroscopic analysis can also be used to analyze the components that make up a substance. Many infrared microscopes currently on the market also have functions as general infrared spectroscopes such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and total internal reflection spectroscopy.

Since the infrared microscope has a microscope function for taking images and a spectroscope function for performing spectral analysis, it is possible to perform FTIR imaging that can acquire two-dimensional chemical information. In such FTIR, imaging contributes to histological evaluation and pathological observation in vivo. It is also used in the industrial field for the purpose of inspecting foreign substances in solids and inspecting defective products by utilizing the difference in infrared absorption rate."

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