Surface sensing systems and methods for imaging a scanned surface of a sample via sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy

1. A method for imaging a scanned surface of a sample, the method comprising:

exposing a sampled location of the scanned surface to a visible light beam;

exposing the sampled location of the scanned surface to a tunable infrared (IR) beam such that the tunable IR beam is at least partially coincident with the visible light beam;

varying a frequency of the tunable IR beam;

inducing optical resonance within an imaged structure that extends at least partially within the sampled location of the scanned surface;

receiving at least a portion of an emitted light beam, which includes a sum frequency signal between the visible light beam and the tunable IR beam, from the sampled location of the scanned surface with a light detection system; and

generating a two-dimensional image of the scanned surface, wherein the generating is based, at least in part, on the receiving.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes varying at least one property of the visible light beam.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one property of the visible light beam includes an intensity of the visible light beam.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional image is representative of at least one of a second-order susceptibility of the scanned surface and a third-order susceptibility of the scanned surface.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second-order susceptibility is indicative of second harmonic generation of the scanned surface.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes selectively varying an output spectrum of the tunable IR beam.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes selectively varying an intensity of the tunable IR beam.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further includes scanning the visible light beam and the tunable IR beam across a scanned portion of the scanned surface.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the scanning includes scanning while continuing at least the exposing the sampled location to the visible light beam, the exposing the sampled location to the tunable IR beam, and the receiving at least the portion of the emitted light beam.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the scanning includes scanning while maintaining the tunable IR beam at least partially coincident on the scanned surface with the visible light beam.

11. A surface sensing system for imaging a scanned surface of a sample, the system comprising:

a sample holder including a support surface configured to support the sample;

a visible light source configured to direct a visible light beam incident upon a sampled location on the scanned surface when the sample is supported by the support surface;

a tunable infrared (IR) source configured to direct a tunable IR beam coincident with the visible light beam incident upon the sampled location on the scanned surface when the sample is supported by the support surface, wherein the tunable IR source further is configured to selectively vary a wavelength of the tunable IR beam to permit the tunable IR beam to selectively induce resonance within an imaged structure that is positioned on the scanned surface;

a light filter configured to receive an emitted light beam, which includes a sum frequency signal between the visible light beam and the tunable IR beam, from the scanned surface and to filter the emitted light beam to generate a filtered light beam, wherein the emitted light beam is emitted from the scanned surface responsive to both the visible light beam and the tunable IR beam being incident on the scanned surface;

a light detection system configured to receive the filtered light beam from the light filter;

an alignment structure configured to operatively align at least two of:

(i) the visible light source;

(ii) the tunable IR source;

(iii) the sample holder;

(iv) the light detection system; and

(v) the light filter; and

a controller programmed to control operation of the surface sensing system according to the method of claim 1 .

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the visible light source includes a visible light source control assembly configured to selectively vary at least one property of the visible light beam.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one property of the visible light beam includes an intensity of the visible light beam.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the filtered light beam is indicative of at least one of a second-order susceptibility of the scanned surface and a third-order susceptibility of the scanned surface.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second-order susceptibility is indicative of second harmonic generation of the scanned surface.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the tunable IR source has a selectively variable output spectrum.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the tunable IR source is configured to selectively vary an intensity of the tunable IR beam.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the system further includes a scanning structure configured to scan the visible light beam and the tunable IR beam across the scanned surface to selectively vary a portion of the scanned surface that defines the sampled location.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the scanning structure is configured to at least one of:

(i) move the visible light beam relative to the scanned surface;

(ii) move the tunable IR beam relative to the scanned surface; and

(iii) concurrently move the tunable IR beam and the visible light beam relative to the scanned surface.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the scanning structure is configured to at least one of:

(i) operatively translate the sample holder relative to the visible light beam;

(ii) operatively translate the sample holder relative to the tunable IR beam;

(iii) operatively translate the sample holder relative to both the visible light beam and the tunable IR beam;

(iv) move the visible light source independently of the tunable IR source; and

(v) move the tunable IR source independently of the visible light source.