Ultrasound sub-surface probe microscopy device and corresponding method

Abstract

An ultrasound sub-surface probe microscopy device () is provided comprising a stage (), a signal generator (), a scanning head (), a signal processor () and a scanning mechanism (). In use, the stage () carries a sample () and the scanning mechanism () provides for a relative displacement between the sample () and the scanning head (), along the surface of the sample. The scanning head () comprises an actuator () configured to generate in response to a drive signal (S) from the signal generator () an ultrasound acoustic input signal (I). The generated ultrasound acoustic input signal (I) has at least one acoustic input signal component (I) with a first angular frequency (ω). The scanning head () further comprises a tip () to transmit the acoustic input signal (I) through a tip-sample interface () as an acoustic wave (W) into the sample. Due to a non-linear interaction in the tip-sample interface () at least one up mixed acoustic signal component (W) in said acoustic wave that has a second angular frequency (ω) higher than the first angular frequency (ω) Contrary to known approaches, the sensor signal (S) provided by the sensor facility is indicative for a contribution (W') of the at least one up mixed acoustic signal component in reflections (W′) of the acoustic wave within the sample (). Therewith a relatively high resolution can be achieved with which subsurface features can be detected.