IRRADIATION METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

An apparatus for irradiating (such as to view of ablate) a specimen, comprising: an optical transmitter for transmitting light from a laser source; an optical probe with an optical exit, the optical probe configured to receive the light from the optical transmitter and to apply the light upon emission from said exit to the specimen; a position detector adapted to detect a position of the optical probe in a longitudinal direction and to output a signal indicative of said position or of a change in said position relative to a surface forward of the optical probe; a drive coupled to the optical probe and adapted to controllably adjust a position of said optical probe in the longitudinal direction; and a feedback controller adapted to receive the signal from said position detector and to control said drive to control said position to keep the optical probe at substantially a constant position relative to the surface forward of the optical probe.