Exploring synthetic and biological polymer composites with polarization modulated mid infrared synchrotron radiation [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Martin Schmidt

INAUGURAL – DISSERTATION zur Erlangung der Doktorwürde der Naturwissenschaftlich - Mathematischen Gesamtfakultät der Ruprecht - Karls - Universität Heidelberg vorgelegt von Martin Schmidt, MSci aus Berlin Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 31. Oktober 2007 Exploring synthetic and biological polymer composites with polarization-modulated mid-infrared synchrotron radiation Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Michael Grunze Prof. Dr. Joachim P.Spatz Abstract Abstract The innovative application of physical methods is required in order to gain comprehensive qualitative as well as quantitative insights into the structures and the properties of complex materials and systems. In this work, the novel hyphenation of synchrotron-based Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy with polarization modulation was implemented. The in this combination so far unique microprobe was designed for the non-destructive in situ study of the composition and the structural anisotropy in small or heterogeneous samples. A key feature demonstrated is the ability of the instrument to spatially resolve infrared linear dichroism down to the diffraction limit by using infrared synchrotron radiation. Another characteristic of great potential was shown to be the capability of obtaining orientation information in reference-free measurements.