Transmission thermal-wave microscopy with pyroelectric detection

A new form of thermal-wave microscopy is reported in which the thermal wave transmitted through a sample is detected by a pyroelectric sensor. A thermal image is formed by scanning a point heat source (an electron beam) over the surface of the sample. The image is sensitive only to thermal inhomogeneities in the sample and is independent of the elastic and optical properties of the sample and of the photothermal properties of the surrounding media.