Abstract: A cryostat includes a rotatable mounting arranged to rotate about a first rotational axis, the mounting extending substantially in a first plane, a sample plate arranged in use to support a sample, located on the rotatable mounting, and a heat sink located adjacent the side of the mounting distant from the sample plate. A thermal conductor extends between the sample plate and the heat sink. The conductor extends through an aperture in the rotatable mounting. A rotatable sample holder for a cryostat includes a sample plate having a first side arranged in use to support a sample, a drive gear arranged to rotate about a first rotational axis, and a driven gear arranged to rotate about a second rotational axis, engaged with the drive gear and coupled to the sample plate such that rotation of the drive gear causes the driven gear and sample holder to rotate. The first rotational axis does not intersect the second rotational axis.

Abstract: A device for detecting a property of a fluid includes a body region and a flexible element having a first end and a second end. The first end is fixedly located on the body region. The flexible element is arranged to move from at least a first configuration to a second configuration via bending of the flexible element. The flexible element includes an actuating portion arranged to move the flexible element between the first configuration and the second configuration. The device also includes a movement detector for detecting movement of the flexible element.

Abstract: A device for detecting a property of a fluid includes a body region and a flexible element having a first end and a second end. The first end is fixedly located on the body region. The flexible element is arranged to move from at least a first configuration to a second configuration via bending of the flexible element. The flexible element includes an actuating portion arranged to move the flexible element between the first configuration and the second configuration. The device also includes a movement detector for detecting movement of the flexible element.

Abstract: A tomographic energy dispersive diffraction imaging apparatus comprises a radiation source for directing incident radiation (1, 3) at a sample (4) mounted on a support, and detection means (9, 10) mounted for detecting radiation transmitted through the sample (4) at a given angle to the direction of incidence of the radiation. The detection means comprises an array of energy dispersive detectors (9) and an array of collimators (10), such that each energy dispersive detector (9) has a respective collimator (10) associated therewith. Each collimator of the collimator array may comprise a plurality of collimator plates with apertures formed therein which are spaced apart along a direction of the transmitted radiation.

Abstract: An ionising particle analyser comprises a source of ionising particles, a charged particle detector, and an ionisable gas located between the source and the detector. The analyser further comprises a charged particle impeding device located between the source and the detector. The charged particle impeding device is arranged to be maintained in a first configuration at a potential to impede the passage of charged particles and pass uncharged particles.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting, by absorption spectroscopy, an isotopic ratio of a sample, by passing first and second laser beams of different frequencies through the sample. Two IR absorption cells are used, a first containing a reference gas of known isotopic ratio and the second containing a sample of unknown isotopic ratio. An interlacer or reflective chopper may be used so that as the laser frequencies are scanned the absorption of the sample cell and the reference cell are detected alternately. This ensures that the apparatus is continuously calibrated and rejects the baseline noise when phase sensitive detection is used.

Abstract: A cryostat includes a rotatable mounting arranged to rotate about a first rotational axis, the mounting extending substantially in a first plane, a sample plate arranged in use to support a sample, located on the rotatable mounting, and a heat sink located adjacent the side of the mounting distant from the sample plate. A thermal conductor extends between the sample plate and the heat sink. The conductor extends through an aperture in the rotatable mounting. A rotatable sample holder for a cryostat includes a sample plate having a first side arranged in use to support a sample, a drive gear arranged to rotate about a first rotational axis, and a driven gear arranged to rotate about a second rotational axis, engaged with the drive gear and coupled to the sample plate such that rotation of the drive gear causes the driven gear and sample holder to rotate. The first rotational axis does not intersect the second rotational axis.

Abstract: An optical sensor having a sapphire body is disclosed. A hollow in the sapphire body defines a surface which is used as a surface of a Fabry-Perot cavity. Interferometry is used to detect changes in the length of the Fabry-Perot cavity, and hence changes in, for example, the temperature or pressure of an environment in which the sensor is placed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for determining crystallization in a very small amount of a material of interest (eg a chemical or biological material of interest).

Abstract: A method of assaying to determine the identity and/or concentration or relative concentration in a sample solution of a particular one of a number of different target molecule types, comprise the steps of: i) adding to the sample a probe substance which binds to the or each target molecule type and which when so bound fluoresces under appropriate excitation; ii) performing a time-resolved fluorescence measurement on the sample; and iii) making said determination from analysis of the time decay data obtained from said time-resolved fluorescence measurement.

Abstract: A tomographic energy dispersive diffraction imaging apparatus comprises a radiation source for directing incident radiation (1, 3) at a sample (4) mounted on a support, and detection means (9, 10) mounted for detecting radiation transmitted through the sample (4) at a given angle to the direction of incidence of the radiation. The detection means comprises an array of energy dispersive detectors (9) and an array of collimators (10), such that each energy dispersive detector (9) has a respective collimator (10) associated therewith. Each collimator of the collimator array may comprise a plurality of collimator plates with apertures formed therein which are spaced apart along a direction of the transmitted radiation.

Abstract: A binding apparatus for printed sheets according to the invention includes a carrying-in conveyor part that sets printed sheets in a planar manner on a conveyance surface of a carrying conveyor to positionally shift the printed sheets in a direction of conveyance so that leading edges thereof in the direction of conveyance can be seen from above, and conveys the printed sheets in succession in a transverse direction; a reverse conveyor part contiguous to the carrying-in conveyor part to convey the printed sheets upward from the transverse direction and convey the printed sheets downward in a direction opposed to the transverse direction; an accumulating part that sets the printed sheets in upright position at a terminal end of the reverse conveyor part to arrange and accumulate the same in the transverse direction; and a binding part that binds the printed sheets thus accumulated.

Abstract: The camera system consists of a folded optical system that focuses object in the visible waveband on a plurality of CCD detector arrays (6). The camera system is a push-broom imager with a plurality of long, substantially linear CCD arrays (6) arranged orthogonal to the scan direction S. The camera system is capable of image resolutions down to 1 m from a space orbit.

Abstract: Apparatus for imaging an object (13) irradiated with an X-ray beam (12) by detecting a transmitted X-ray beam transmitted through the object. A crystal analyser (15) receives the transmitted X-ray beam and emits a first diffracted X-ray beam to a detector assembly (14) comprising first and second X-ray detectors (16 and 17). The first detector (16) is a monochromating semiconductor detector which detects a first portion of the first diffracted X-ray beam to generate first image data, and which diffracts a second portion of the first diffracted beam to the second detector (17) which generates second image data. Image processing means (18) are provided for combining the first and second image data to derive a refraction image and an absorption image of the object (13).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing an ordered array of nanoparticles on a substrate surface and to a nanomaterial having such an ordered array of nanoparticles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to the provision of an ordered array of magnetic nanocrystals on a substrate surface. Although the present invention is not limited to the production of a magnetic array, one important object of the present invention is the production of a material suitable for use as an ultra high density magnetic data storage medium. According to the present invention there is provided a method of producing a structure comprising a plurality of nanoparticles distributed across a surface of a substrate in a predetermined array, the method comprising the steps of: i) providing a substrate which has a passivated surface; ii) depositing nanoparticles on to said surface; and iii) displacing said particles over said surface to configure them in said predetermined array.

Abstract: A flow cell comprising a mixer having first and second inlets for receiving fluids to be mixed and a common mixed fluids outlet, a body defining a chamber having an inlet connected to the mixer outlet and no outlet, and means for delivering fluids to the mixer inlets at predetermined flow rates. A window is formed in at least one wall of the chamber through which mixed fluids within the chamber may be observed. The mixer inlets and outlet are interconnected at a common junction and are dimensioned such that at the predetermined flow rates fluid flow is turbulent immediately upstream and downstream of the junction, and the chamber inlet is defined by a plurality of conduits which communicate in parallel with spaced-apart portions of the chamber and are dimensioned such that at the predetermined flow rates fluid flow is laminar immediately upstream of the chamber.

Abstract: A waveguide structure is fabricated by patterning active elements on a semiconductor wafer (21). The upper surface of the wafer (21) and the active elements are then coated by a dissolvable positive resist polymer. The polymer is etched using conventional techniques to produce a former for the structure of the waveguide channel and subsequently the polymer former is coated (26) and electroformed (27) using a suitable metallic material. Finally, the polymer former is dissolved leaving an open channel (25) the boundaries of which are defined by the electroformed structure. The waveguide structure has the advantage that the active elements are integral with the waveguide structure and lie in a common fabrication plane which means that if the depth of the waveguide varies the active elements remain in the same plane. The waveguide structure is particularly suited for use at terahertz frequencies.

Abstract: The camera system consists of a folded optical system that focuses object in the visible waveband on a plurality of CCD detector arrays (6). The camera system is a push-broom imager with a plurality of long, substantially linear CCD arrays (6) arranged orthogonal to the scan direction S. The camera system is capable of image resolutions down to 1 m from a space orbit.

Abstract: A waveguide structure is fabricated by patterning active elements on a semiconductor wafer (21). The upper surface of the wafer (21) and the active elements are then coated by a dissolvable positive resist polymer. The polymer is etched using conventional techniques to produce a former for the structure of die waveguide channel and subsequently the polymer former is coated (26) and electroformed (27) using a suitable metallic material. Finally, the polymer former is dissolved leaving an open channel (25) the boundaries of which are defined by the electroformed stucture. The waveguide structure has the advantage that die active elements are integral with the waveguide structure and lie in a common fabrication plane which means that if the depth of the waveguide varies the active elements remain in the same plane. The waveguide structure is particularly suited for use at terahertz frequencies.

Abstract: The formation of dust particle agglomerates within a plasma reactor is controlled through adjustment of the ratio of the temperatures of two particle species within the plasma. Adjustment of the ratio of temperatures is achieved by means of one or more temperature control devices which alter the temperature of one particle species with respect to the temperature of a second particle species. The temperature of a neutral particle species may be adjusted with respect to the temperature of dust particles present within the plasma by heating or cooling the neutral gas supplied to the plasma chamber. Alternatively, the temperature of the dust particles may be raised or lowered with respect to the neutral gas particles by heating or cooling the substrate from which the dust particles emerge.