--- title: How can cathodoluminescence imaging modes enhance your research in 6 ways? description: Are you interested in cathodoluminescence imaging? Read our blog about how different cathodoluminescence imaging modes can enhance your research in 6 ways. image: https://blog.delmic.com/hubfs/energy%20momentum%20cathodoluminescence.png --- ###### [cathodoluminescence](https://blog.delmic.com/topic/cathodoluminescence), [SPARC](https://blog.delmic.com/topic/sparc), [semiconductors](https://blog.delmic.com/topic/semiconductors), [photovoltaics](https://blog.delmic.com/topic/photovoltaics) • 5 # How can cathodoluminescence imaging modes enhance your research in 6 ways? [Delmic February 18, 2020](https://blog.delmic.com/author/delmic) ![energy momentum cathodoluminescence](https://blog.delmic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/energy%20momentum%20cathodoluminescence.png?width=1080&name=energy%20momentum%20cathodoluminescence.png) Cathodoluminescence is a great tool for obtaining valuable information about the properties of a sample, which can empower researchers and developers with a better understanding of possible defects, efficiency of the material and other properties.    [The SPARC cathodoluminescence detector](https://www.delmic.com/sparc-cathodoluminescence-sem) has 6 imaging modes which can enhance your research and provide you with an important information about your samples. Keep reading if you would like to know what exactly [the SPARC](https://blog.delmic.com/high-performance-cathodoluminescence-system-one-of-a-kind-features) can benefit your research! **Rapid inspection and region-of-interest finding** ![cl-intensity-mapping](https://blog.delmic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website_pictures/Image_Galleries/CL/cl-intensity-mapping.jpg?width=281&name=cl-intensity-mapping.jpg)By means of a photomultiplier tube (PMT), the SPARC CL detector can inspect large areas of the sample easily and rapidly, also enabling efficient region-of-interest finding. This can be done by using the [Fast-intensity mapping](https://request.delmic.com/cathodoluminescence-intensity-mapping-application-note-delmic)  mode in the SPARC system that records the cathodoluminescence intensity for every beam position with a single-pixel light detector. A filter wheel can be used for spectral differentiation. Some applications are: mapping defects, measuring radiation efficiency, and recording color changes in a large variety of (doped) dielectric, ceramic, semiconductor and [geological materials](https://blog.delmic.com/what-is-cl-intensity-mapping). **Insight into the band structure of periodic systems** ![angle-resolved-cathodoluminescence](https://blog.delmic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website_pictures/Image_Galleries/CL/angle-resolved-cathodoluminescence.jpg?width=281&name=angle-resolved-cathodoluminescence.jpg)The direction in which light is emitted often contains valuable information on how a (nanostructured) object scatters and emits light, and thus helps to understand the band structure of periodic systems. The SPARC system has an [Angle-resolved CL spectroscopy](https://request.delmic.com/angle-resolved-cathodoluminescence-imaging-technical-note) mode, which uses a high NA parabolic mirror to collect the emitted light and retrieve the emitted intensity as a function of the emission angle by projecting an image of the mirror onto an imaging camera. **Wavelength measurements: look into optical and structural properties of materials** ![sparc_imagingmodes_hyperspectral](https://blog.delmic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website_pictures/Figures/sparc_imagingmodes_hyperspectral.jpg?width=280&name=sparc_imagingmodes_hyperspectral.jpg)The wavelength distribution (spectrum) of the emitted light often contains valuable information on the local optical and structural properties of the material. In the [hyperspectral imaging](https://request.delmic.com/hyperspectral-cathodoluminescence-imaging-technical-note-delmic) mode of the SPARC, a complete spectrum is collected from every pixel, providing a high-resolution spectrum in one shot, for every electron beam position. By scanning the e-beam across the sample, a spatially [resolved hyperspectral image ](https://blog.delmic.com/what-is-hyperspectral-cathodoluminescence)is produced. A variety of imaging detectors can be used to cover a spectral range of 200-1600 nm. **Polarization measurement: study coherence, scattering, birefringence, and chirality** ![sparc_imagingmodes_polarimetry](https://blog.delmic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website_pictures/Figures/sparc_imagingmodes_polarimetry.png?width=280&name=sparc_imagingmodes_polarimetry.png)[Polarization](https://request.delmic.com/polarization-filtered-cathodoluminescence-imaging-technical-note) plays a key role in light-matter interactions. Besides color (energy) and momentum (propagation direction), light is also characterized by a polarization, which describes in what direction the electro-magnetic fields in the light oscillate. Using a polarizer or even a full polarimeter in the angle-resolved mode of SPARC allows for the reconstruction of the polarization state (Stokes vector) of CL for different emission angles. The [CL polarimetry ](https://blog.delmic.com/polarization-cathodoluminescence-imaging)[results obtained from the SPARC](https://blog.delmic.com/polarization-cathodoluminescence-imaging) can be used to study coherence, scattering, birefringence, and chirality. Additionally, it can be used to block spurious background radiation and correct for aberrating effects in the collection optics. **Understand material properties and physical processes in materials** ![time-resolved](https://blog.delmic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/time-resolved.png?width=267&name=time-resolved.png)Studying the time dynamics of materials can be vital for a better understanding of physical processes and material properties. [Time-resolved CL imaging ](https://blog.delmic.com/time-resolved-cathodoluminescence) using the [Lab Cube ](https://www.delmic.com/sparc-lab-cube-module)together with the SPARC, provides insights into the time dynamics of  materials by performing lifetime imaging, i.e., measuring the exponential probability distribution for light emission as a function of time delay. Alternatively, the 2nd order autocorrelation function can be measured, to perform [*g*](https://request.delmic.com/sparc-technical-note-cathodoluminescence-g2-imaging-landing)[*(2) *](https://request.delmic.com/sparc-technical-note-cathodoluminescence-g2-imaging-landing)[imaging](https://request.delmic.com/sparc-technical-note-cathodoluminescence-g2-imaging-landing). Time-resolved imaging is highly relevant for a wide range of applications, including [semiconductors for photovoltaics](https://blog.delmic.com/cl-imaging-for-photovoltaics) and light-emitting devices, as well as single emitters for quantum information processing and sensing. **Map the optical properties of dispersive and anisotropic systems** ![energy momentum cathodoluminescence](https://blog.delmic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/energy%20momentum%20cathodoluminescence.png?width=276&name=energy%20momentum%20cathodoluminescence.png)Energy-Momentum Cathodoluminescence Imaging using the SPARC is a new technique which can be applied to track the directionality of the emitted light through energy- and momentum-space with very high precision. It is a great tool for mapping the optical properties of a wide range of dispersive and anisotropic systems, paving the way for a broad range of studies on complex nanophotonic systems. Would you like to know more about CL? Make sure to[ sign up](https://request.delmic.com/cl-webinarseries-subscription) for our ongoing CL webinar series, [Cathodoluminescence Fundamentals](https://blog.delmic.com/news/new-webinar-series-cl-fundamentals) #### Delmic [![](https://blog.delmic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20-%20CL%20semiconductor%20nanostructures.png?width=380&name=Blog%20-%20CL%20semiconductor%20nanostructures.png) ](https://blog.delmic.com/high-resolution-cathodoluminescence-for-semiconductor-nanostructures) [###### cathodoluminescence ## High-resolution Cathodoluminescence for semiconductor nanostructures ](https://blog.delmic.com/high-resolution-cathodoluminescence-for-semiconductor-nanostructures) [![](https://blog.delmic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Blog/2024_Perovskites-Ion-Transport.jpg?width=380&name=2024_Perovskites-Ion-Transport.jpg) ](https://blog.delmic.com/in-situ-laser-ion-migration-in-perovskites) [###### materials science ## How in situ laser illumination reveals ion migration in perovskites ](https://blog.delmic.com/in-situ-laser-ion-migration-in-perovskites) [![](https://blog.delmic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website/Blog/2024_Materials_Micro-nanoplastics_Header.jpg?width=380&name=2024_Materials_Micro-nanoplastics_Header.jpg) ](https://blog.delmic.com/microplastics-classification-cathodoluminescence) [###### materials science ## A new approach to microplastics classification using SEM-CL and AI ](https://blog.delmic.com/microplastics-classification-cathodoluminescence)