MSEN 360 - Materials Characterization

Flashcards for the MSEN 360 Materials Characterization course, focusing on vocabulary related to microscopy and material properties.

Materials Characterization

Principles and techniques used in characterization of different materials, including metals, ceramics, polymers, composites and semiconductor systems; microstructural, chemical/compositional and surface analysis methods; interpretation and analysis of the characterization results.

Microscopy

Observation of small features.

Magnification

Primary feature of a microscope; the process of enlarging the apparent size, not physical size, of something.

Resolution

Primary feature of a microscope; ability to clearly distinguish (resolve) two adjacent points on a surface controlled by diffraction of light.

Contrast

Primary feature of a microscope; the difference in visual properties that makes an object distinguishable from other objects and the background.

Numerical Aperture

Number representing the range of angles over which a lens can accept light and focus it.

Lateral Resolution

Rl = 0.61λ / 𝜇 * sin 𝛼

Axial Resolution

Ra = 2 * λ / (𝜇 * sin𝛼)^2

Image Artifacts

Spherical Aberration, Chromatic Aberration, Astigmatism

Kohler Illumination

A way to provide uniform illumination across the sample surface

Structure

Arrangement of internal components (across multiple length scales)