For many applications in the areas of forensics, pharmaceuticals, life sciences and semiconductor development it is essential to analyse two-dimensional samples by infrared (IR) spectroscopy with high spatial resolution.
The Hyperion FT-IR Microscope system combines high sensitivity IR-mapping and high quality IR-imaging within one instrument with software-controlled switching between both acquisition techniques. A typical forensic application for this technology is in identification of a vehicle used in a hit-and-run case from evidence collected at the scene of the crime.
The victim's clothing contained paint chips from the unknown vehicle, which were microtome cut and analysed using the ATR-objective on the imaging system. The ATR-objective gives clear viewing and incorporates a pressure adjustable contact sensor, which prevents damage to the ATR measurement crystal.
Imaging across the paint chip revealed individual layers and library searches against the European Automotive Paint Collection identified not only the paint, but also the model and year of the vehicle involved. The red spectrum is from the paint sample collected at the crime scene and the blue spectrum is the library match for this sample. The hit quality index gave a high degree of confidence in the result of the identification.
The Hyperion series of instruments used in this application study can be upgraded from a base configuration to full imaging capability by incorporating a state-of-the-art focal plane array detector capable of generating high resolution chemical images in a matter of seconds. u
ENQUIRY No 42
Bruker Optics Limited is based in Coventry, UK. www.brukeroptics.com
