The required system consists of an FT-IR interferometer coupled with an infrared microscope for FT-IR microspectroscopy and imaging. Its operating range and spectral resolution are minimally 600-8000 cm-1 and 0.2 cm-1, respectively. The possibility to extend the spectral range to the far-infrared (down to 150 cm-1) and the near-infrared and visible range (up to 25, 000 cm-1) will also be considered. Coupled with the FT-IR microscope, the system is capable of sampling over very small areas (diffraction limited, down to 1-2 microns in lateral dimensions). The FT-IR microscope must allow for microspectroscopy in transmission and reflection, as well as attenuated total reflectance modes. The FT-IR microscope is capable of fully automated chemically resolved two-dimensional mapping combined with visible light imaging over a large spatial field using a single point detector as well an IR array detector. The FT-IR microscope must be equipped with fast infrared objectives adapted, for instance, for microspectroscopy of samples compressed in diamond anvil cells. The FT- IR instrument comprises a spectral database necessary for chemical identification. The FT-IR instrument is imperative for the micro-characterization of diverse advanced bio- and optical materials and devices, structured materials f or non-linear optics, minerals, as well as dense materials studied at extreme conditions.
