LICOR stands for "Long-Integrating Cavity Optical Reflectometry." It is a scientific technique used in optical physics and engineering to measure the reflectivity properties of a material or a system by using a resonant cavity. The LICOR technique involves inserting a sample into a cavity formed by two highly reflective mirrors, where one mirror is partially transmissive. This allows a laser beam to enter the cavity and circulate multiple times, enhancing the interaction between the light and the sample.
As the laser beam circulates in the cavity, it interacts with the sample, which can be a solid, liquid, or gas, and undergoes multiple reflections. Through this interaction, the reflectivity properties of the sample material, such as absorption, scattering, or refractive index changes, can be determined. By carefully analyzing the changes in the reflected light intensity and phase, LICOR enables measurements of extremely high sensitivity, typically in the nanometer range.
LICOR has a wide range of applications in various fields of research and technology, including materials science, quantum optics, biochemistry, and chemical sensing. It is particularly useful for studying thin films, optical coatings, nanostructures, and non-linear optical phenomena. LICOR can also be combined with other techniques to provide additional information about the sample, such as its thickness, surface roughness, or optical properties.
Overall, LICOR is an advanced optical reflectometry technique that utilizes a resonant cavity to accurately measure the reflectivity properties of a sample, enabling researchers to gain valuable insights into its optical behavior and characteristics.
