Photothermal microscopy: a step from thermal wave visualization to spatially localized thermal analysis.

The calculation of photothermal response detected by a photothermal microscope is presented. By using a technique based on Green's functions and integral transforms, a model for laser-induced temperature distribution functions has been derived. The mathematical method for solution of inverse problem is proposed. It suggests that photothermal microscopy, besides imaging subsurface of solids, has the potential for quantitative thermal analysis of various samples.