Feb 19 2015
WITec and Tescan have been recognized with a 2015 Photonics Prism Award. An expert jury named the correlative RISE microscope as winner in the metrology category.
Dr. Klaus Weishaupt, WITec Managing Director Marketing & Sales and the WITec/Tescan Team accept the Prism Award 2015. F.l.t.r: Dr. Klaus Weishaupt (WITec GmbH), Jeff Streger, (TESCAN USA Inc.), Radomír Kopřiva (TESCAN ORSAY HOLDING, a.s.), Steve Rapp (WITec Instruments Corp.)
The Prism Award is given for top innovations in the field of photonics, granted by Photonics Media and sponsored by the international Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE.). The winners were chosen from more than 130 applicants.
RISE Microscopy is a novel correlative microscopy technique that combines confocal Raman Imaging and Scanning Electron (RISE) Microscopy within one integrated microscope system. This unique combination enables the most comprehensive sample characterization: electron microscopy is an excellent technique for visualizing sample surface structures in the nanometer range; confocal Raman imaging is an established spectroscopic method used for the detection of the chemical and molecular components of a sample.
It can also generate 2D- and 3D-images and depth profiles to visualize the distribution of the molecular compounds within a sample. The RISE Microscope enables for the first time the acquisition of SEM and Raman images from the same sample area and the correlation of ultra-structural and chemical information with one microscope system.
The RISE Microscope is another striking example of WITec’s enormous innovative strength. We are proud to once again receive a Prism Award, the second after being recognized in 2011 for WITec’s TrueSurface microscopy technology.
Dr. Olaf Hollricher, WITec Managing Director R&D
The success of the RISE Microscope is clear evidence of the competence of our R&D team but also of our ability to grow working contacts with prominent research institutions as well as with leading innovative companies. The innovative strength of the TESCAN ORSAY HOLDING is an important driving force of our outstanding business success.
Ing. Jaroslav Klíma, CEO at TESCAN ORSAY HOLDING
The microscope’s development was a joint effort of WITec and TESCAN within the UNIVSem project, funded by the EU. It provides all functions and features of a stand-alone SEM and a confocal Raman microscope.
Both SEM and Raman are high-resolution imaging techniques with sub-nanometer and diffraction-limited 200-300 nanometer resolution, respectively. In Raman imaging mode the sample can be scanned through a range of 250 µm x 250 µm x 250 µm.
RISE Microscopy pairs ease-of-use with exceptional analyzing benefits and is therefore suited to a large variety of applications such as nanotechnology, materials sciences, geology and life sciences.
About WITec
WITec is a leading manufacturer of confocal and scanning-probe microscopes for state-of-the-art Raman, Atomic Force (AFM), and Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy (SNOM). WITec’s headquarters is located in Ulm, Germany, where all WITec products are developed and produced. Branch offices in USA, Japan, Singapore, and Spain ensure a worldwide sales and support network. From the company’s founding in 1997, WITec has been distinguished by its innovative product portfolio and a microscope design that enables combinations of the various imaging techniques within one system. An exemplar of the company’s breakthrough development is the world’s first integrated Raman-AFM microscope. To this day, WITec’s confocal microscopes are unrivaled in sensitivity, resolution and imaging capabilities. Significant innovation awards document WITec’s enduring success and innovative strength. For more information, please visit www.witec.de.
About TESCAN
The leading provider of scientific instrumentation is well known for its innovation and openness to work with researchers and customizing applications to fit specific analytical needs. TESCAN’s product range includes thermal emission systems, LaB6 systems, field emission systems, FIB and Plasma FIB systems. The TESCAN brand has, within 24 years of its existence, built a formidable reputation; 1900+ SEMs installed in over 60 countries are a testament to TESCAN first-class quality and proven technology.
TESCAN ORSAY HOLDING is a multi-national company established by the merger of the Czech company TESCAN, a leading global supplier of SEMs and focused ion beam workstations, and the French company ORSAY PHYSICS, a world leader in customized Focused Ion Beam and Electron Beam technology.