Time-resolved thermal mirror for nanoscale surface displacement detection in low absorbing solids

Abstract

A time-resolved thermal mirror method for measurements of absolute thermo-optical-mechanical properties of low absorbing solids is presented. The thermoelastic equation for the surface displacement and an analytical expression for the probe beam intensity at the detector plane were derived. Experimental proofs were performed in an optical glass and the fitted parameters are in good agreement with previous literature data for thermal, optical, and mechanical properties, suggesting that the method is a useful tool for the characterization of a wide range of transparent materials.