Mountains® allows you to analyze simple but also composite data obtained using a very wide range of surface analysis instruments & microscopes.
The following are some of the most common data types managed.
Topography and images from profilometers, optical profilers, microscopes etc.
Data type | Formula | Description | Suitable for… | Example application | |
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Profile | z=f(x) | A profile is a measurement of heights along a line on a surface. The height Z is expressed according to a position X. |
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Series of profiles | z=f(x,t) | Several profiles packed together as a single data set. |
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Parametric profile (“contour”) | (x,z) = f(t) | The outer line of one or several objects. Contrary to the standard profile (in which only one side is studied), a parametric profile may contain overhangs and closed contours. |
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Surface | z=f(x,y) | A surface is a measurement of heights over a rectangular area of a surface. The height Z is expressed according to a position X,Y. |
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Series of surfaces | z=f(x,y,t) | Several surfaces packed together as a single data set. |
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Shell | Freeform surfaces
Meshes representing the outer shell of an object |
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Multi-channel image | (z1,z2,…zn) = f(x,y) | Multiple signal analysis over a rectangular area. Note: Prior to V9.0, this data type was called “Multilayer surface”. |
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Image | (R,G,B) = f(x,y)
or G = f(x,y) |
A common image where each X,Y pixel has a “true” color (RGB) or possibly just the gray level (G) |
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Series of images | (R,G,B) = f(x,y,t) | A collection of images packed into a single data set |
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In Mountains®, a series of images is often used for 3D reconstruction. This can be :
The result can then be studied as a surface-image data type (see below). |
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Surface-image | (Z,R,G,B) = f(x,y)
or (Z,G) = f(x,y) |
An association of a surface and an image packed into a single data set
The image can be a true color image (RGB) or a gray level image (G) |
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Point Cloud | (x,y,z) | A set of space coordinates with no established order nor relation between them |
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AFM Force curve analysis
Data type | Description | |
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Force curve | Force Curves represent the deflection of the cantilever (used in Atomic Force Microscopy, AFM) according to its vertical distance from the sample. The measurement consists of two curves, the approach curve (blue) and the retract curve (red). |
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Series of force curves | A collection of force curves packed into a single data set |
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Force-volume | A Force-Volume Studiable is a grid of equally spaced Force Curves. Each point in the image corresponds to a force curve that contains an approach and a retract curve.
A Force Volume Studiable is a set of Force Curves that is considered as a single object. |
Spectral and hyperSpectral analysis
Data type | Formula | Description | Suitable for… | Example application | |
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Spectrum | Generated by a spectrometer. Peaks in the spectrum are detected automatically |
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Series of spectra | A collection of the previous packed into a single data set | |||
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Hyperspectral image | In a hyperspectral image, each pixel represents a full spectrum. The color of the pixel in a slice gives information about the intensity or amplitude of the spectrum at the given wavenumber. Note: Prior to V9.0, this data type was called “Hyperspectral cube”. |
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Multi-channel Cubes | (i1,i2,…iN) = f(x,y,z) | A cube of voxels encoding the chemical composition of a material.
Each voxel located at (x,y,z) encodes one value per channel, each channel (1 to N) representing the abundance of a given material. |
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What if my instrument data type is not listed above?
The above list contains data types available in currently released versions of Mountains®.
However other data types, already developed in the frame of private projects or for future versions, may also be managed. Please contact us.