Abstract: A light source assembly includes a housing assembly and at least two sets of disparate light sources that are coupled to the housing assembly. The sets of disparate light sources include a first plurality of disparate light sources; and a second plurality of disparate light sources. Each plurality of disparate light sources includes a first light source that generates a first light beam having a first center wavelength and a second light source that generates a second light beam having a second center wavelength that is different than the first center wavelength. The first plurality of disparate light sources generates a first output beam that is directed along a first central beam axis. The second plurality of disparate light sources generates a second output beam that is directed along a second central beam axis that is spaced apart from the first central beam axis by at least approximately sixty degrees.

Abstract: A laser source (340) that generates an output beam (354) that is directed along a beam axis (354A) that is coaxial with a first axis and orthogonal to a second axis comprises a first frame (356), a laser (358), and a first mounting assembly (360). The laser (358) generates the output beam (354) that is directed along the beam axis (354A). The first mounting assembly (360) couples the laser (358) to the first frame (356). The first mounting assembly (360) allows the laser (358) to expand and contract relative to the first frame (356) along the first axis and along the second axis, while maintaining alignment of the output beam (354) so the beam axis (354A) is substantially coaxial with the first axis. The first mounting assembly (360) can include a first fastener assembly (366) that couples the laser (358) to the first frame (356), and a first alignment assembly (368) that maintains alignment of the laser (358) along a first alignment axis (370) that is substantially parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: An imaging microscope (12) for generating an image of a sample (10) comprises a beam source (14) that emits a temporally coherent illumination beam (20), the illumination beam (20) including a plurality of rays that are directed at the sample (10); an image sensor (18) that converts an optical image into an array of electronic signals; and an imaging lens assembly (16) that receives rays from the beam source (14) that are transmitted through the sample (10) and forms an image on the image sensor (18). The imaging lens assembly (16) can further receive rays from the beam source (14) that are reflected off of the sample (10) and form a second image on the image sensor (18). The imaging lens assembly (16) receives the rays from the sample (10) and forms the image on the image sensor (18) without splitting and recombining the rays.

Abstract: An assembly (12) for rapid thermal data acquisition of a sample (10) includes a laser source (14), a light sensing device (26), and a control system (28). The laser source (14) emits a laser beam (16) that is directed at the sample (10), the laser beam (16) including a plurality of pulses (233). The light sensing device (26) senses mid-infrared light from the sample (10), the light sensing device (26) including a pixel array (348). The control system (28) controls the light sensing device (26) to capture a plurality of sequential readouts (402) from the pixel array (348) with a substantially steady periodic readout acquisition rate 405. The control system (28) can generate a spectral cube (13) using information from the readouts (402).

Abstract: An imaging microscope for spectrally analyzing a sample includes (i) a laser source that generates an interrogation beam; (ii) an attenuated total reflection assembly that includes an ATR crystal and a sample holder that holds the sample in intimate contact with the ATR crystal; (iii) an objective lens assembly that collects a reflected beam and focuses the reflected beam; and (iv) a two dimensional image sensor that receives the focused, reflected beam and captures two dimensional image information that is used to generate an image of the sample, the image sensor being operable in the mid-infrared range.

Abstract: A spectral imaging device (12) includes an image sensor (28), an illumination source (14), a refractive, optical element (24A), a mover assembly (24C) (29), and a control system (30). The image sensor (28) acquires data to construct a two-dimensional spectral image (13A) during a data acquisition time (346). The illumination source (14) generates an illumination beam (16) that illuminates the sample (10) to create a modified beam (16I) that follow a beam path (16B) from the sample (10) to the image sensor (28). The refractive, optical element (24A) is spaced apart a separation distance (42) from the sample (10) along the beam path (16B). During the data acquisition time (346), the control system (30) controls the illumination source (14) to generate the illumination beam (16), controls the mover assembly (29) (24C) to modulate the separation distance (42), and controls the image sensor (28) to capture the data.

Abstract: Spectrally analyzing an unknown sample (10A) for the existence of a characteristic includes (i) analyzing a first known sample (10C) having the characteristic and a second known sample (10D) not having the characteristic to identify less than fifty diagnostic spectral features, each diagnostic spectral feature being present at a different diagnostic wavelength in a mid-infrared spectral region; (ii) directing a plurality of interrogation beams (16) at the unknown sample (10A), each of the interrogation beams (16) having a different interrogation wavelength, and each interrogation wavelength corresponding to a different one of the diagnostic wavelengths; (iii) acquiring a plurality of separate output images (245) of the unknown sample (10A), wherein each of the output images (245) is acquired while the unknown sample is illuminated by a different one of the interrogation beams (16); and (iv) analyzing less than fifty output images (245) with a control system (28) to determine whether the characteristic is pres

Abstract: A body monitor (12) for monitoring a condition of a living being (10) includes (i) a monitor housing (28) that is positioned adjacent to the living being (10); (ii) a first laser source (240) that directs a first output beam (240A) at the living being (10) to generate first photoacoustic waves; (iii) a second laser source (242) that directs a second output beam (242A) at the living being (10) to generate second photoacoustic waves; and (iv) a photoacoustic detector (16) secured to the monitor housing (28). The photoacoustic detector (16) detects the first photoacoustic waves and the second photoacoustic waves to monitor the condition of the living being (10). The output beams (240A) (240B) have a different center wavelength and can be in the mid-infrared range.

Abstract: A mid-infrared objective lens assembly (10) includes a plurality of spaced apart, refractive lens elements (20) that operate in the mid-infrared spectral range, the plurality of lens elements (20) including an aplanatic first lens element (26) that is closest to an object (14) to be observed. The first lens element (26) has a forward surface (36) that faces the object (14) and a rearward surface (38) that faces away from the object (14). The forward surface (36) can have a radius of curvature that is negative.

Abstract: A light source assembly includes a housing assembly, a plurality of disparate light sources that are coupled to the housing assembly, a power source, a control system and a selector assembly. Each of the light sources generates an output beam that is directed away from the housing assembly, wherein each of the output beams has a center wavelength that is in a different wavelength range than each of the other output beams. The power source provides electrical power to each of the light sources. The control system selectively controls the electrical power that is provided by the power source to the light sources. The selector assembly is electrically connected to the control system, and is selectively controllable to selectively direct current to each of the light sources to generate the desired output beams.

Abstract: A spectral imaging device (12) includes an image sensor (28), a tunable light source (14), an optical assembly (17), and a control system (30). The optical assembly (17) includes a first refractive element (24A) and a second refractive element (24B) that are spaced apart from one another by a first separation distance. The refractive elements (24A) (24B) have an element optical thickness and a Fourier space component of the optical frequency dependent transmittance function. Further, the element optical thickness of each refractive element (24A) (24B) and the first separation distance are set such that the Fourier space components of the optical frequency dependent transmittance function of each refractive element (24A) (24B) fall outside a Fourier space measurement passband.

Abstract: A laser assembly for generating an output beam includes a first module assembly, a second module assembly, and a module fastener assembly. The second module assembly is selectively movable relative to the first module assembly to selectively adjust a cavity length, and a pivot axis of a grating in the laser. Further, an arm assembly that retains the grating can be adjusted to adjust the cavity length, and to adjust the plane of the grating face. Moreover, the grating is movable relative to the arm assembly to align the grating.

Abstract: Spectrally analyzing an unknown sample (10A) includes (i) providing a spatially homogeneous region (10B) of the unknown sample (10A); (ii) directing a plurality of interrogation beams (16) at the spatially homogeneous region (10B) with a laser source (14), (iii) acquiring a separate output image (245) while the unknown sample (10A) is illuminated by each of the interrogation beams (16) with an image sensor (26A); and (iv) analyzing less than fifty output images (245) to analyze whether a characteristic is present in the unknown sample (10A) with a control system (28) that includes a processor. Each of the interrogation beams (16) is nominally monochromatic and has a different interrogation wavelength that is in the mid-infrared spectral range.

Abstract: A laser assembly for generating an output beam includes a first module assembly, a second module assembly, and a module fastener assembly. The second module assembly is selectively movable relative to the first module assembly to selectively adjust a cavity length, and a pivot axis of a grating in the laser. Further, an arm assembly that retains the grating can be adjusted to adjust the cavity length, and to adjust the plane of the grating face. Moreover, the grating is movable relative to the arm assembly to align the grating.

Abstract: An imaging microscope (12) for generating an image of a sample (10) comprises a beam source (14) that emits a temporally coherent illumination beam (20), the illumination beam (20) including a plurality of rays that are directed at the sample (10); an image sensor (18) that converts an optical image into an array of electronic signals; and an imaging lens assembly (16) that receives rays from the beam source (14) that are transmitted through the sample (10) and forms an image on the image sensor (18). The imaging lens assembly (16) can further receive rays from the beam source (14) that are reflected off of the sample (10) and form a second image on the image sensor (18). The imaging lens assembly (16) receives the rays from the sample (10) and forms the image on the image sensor (18) without splitting and recombining the rays.

Abstract: A mid-infrared objective lens assembly (10) includes a plurality of spaced apart, refractive lens elements (20) that operate in the mid-infrared spectral range, the plurality of lens elements (20) including an aplanatic first lens element (26) that is closest to an object (14) to be observed. The first lens element (26) has a forward surface (36) that faces the object (14) and a rearward surface (38) that faces away from the object (14). The forward surface (36) can have a radius of curvature that is negative.

Abstract: A laser source (340) comprises a first frame (356), a laser (358), and a first mounting assembly (360). The laser (358) generates an output beam (354) that is directed along a beam axis (354A). The first mounting assembly (360) allows the laser (358) to expand and contract relative to the first frame (356) along a first axis and along a second axis that is orthogonal to the beam axis, while maintaining alignment of the output beam (354) so the beam axis (354A) is substantially coaxial with the first axis. The first mounting assembly (360) can include a first fastener assembly (366) that couples the laser (358) to the first frame (356), and a first alignment assembly (368) that maintains alignment of the laser (358) along a first alignment axis (370) that is substantially parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: A laser assembly (10) that generates a beam (12) includes (i) a gain medium (22) that generates the beam (12) when electrical power is directed to the gain medium (22); (ii) a grating (32) positioned in a path of the beam (12); (iii) a grating arm (34) that retains the grating (32); and (iv) a mover assembly (36) that moves the grating arm (34) about a pivot axis (38). The mover assembly (36) includes a coarse mover (344) that makes large scale movements to the grating arm (34), and a fine mover (352) that makes fine movements to the grating arm (34). With this design, the mover assembly (36) can quickly and accurately move the grating (32) over a relatively large range.

Abstract: A laser source assembly (10) comprises a laser system (228), a mounting base (226), and a temperature control system (229). The mounting base (226) supports the laser system (228). The mounting base (226) includes a side wall (232) having a side top (232T) and a side bottom (232B), and a base floor (234) that extends away from the side wall (232) between the side top (232T) and the side bottom (232B). The temperature control system (229) controls the temperature of the laser system (228) and/or the mounting base (226). The temperature control system (229) includes a heat transferor (246) positioned substantially adjacent to an outer surface (2320) of the side wall (232). Heat generated by the laser system (228) is transferred away from the base floor (234) and through the side wall (232) to the heat transferor (246).

Abstract: A laser source (10) for emitting an output beam (12) along an output axis (12A) includes (i) a first laser module (16) that generates a first beam (16A); (ii) a second laser module (18) that generates a second beam (18A); (iii) a beam selector assembly (32); (iv) a first director assembly (24) that directs the first beam (16A) at the beam selector assembly (32); (v) a second director assembly (26) that directs the second beam (18A) at the beam selector assembly (32); and (vii) a control system (34) that directs power to the modules (16), (18). The beam selector assembly (32) moves between a first position in which the first beam (16A) is directed along the output axis (12A), and a second position in which the second beam (18A) is directed along the output axis (12A).