Fundamental validation for surface texture imaging using a microsphere as a laser-trapping-based microprobe

A surface imaging technique using a laser-trapped microsphere is proposed. The goal of this research is to image the surface texture, while simultaneously measuring the position of the engineered surfaces using the laser-trapping-based microprobe. This paper presents an investigation of imaging characteristics for the microsphere technique. Depending on the distance from the surface to the microsphere, the available images could be either real or virtual. Virtual images had a higher contrast than real images. Contrast and magnification varies depending on the positions of the focal point of the objective lens and surface.