Abstract: In systems and methods for analyzing traces of airborne compounds, the air to be analyzed is circulated for a given length of time through a small-diameter analysis tube while lowering the temperature of the air at the entrance to the analysis tube. Condensation and deposits of compounds are formed on the inner walls of the analysis tube. A scraping liquid is circulated through the analysis tube to scrape off the deposits. The compounds in the deposits are concentrated at the front of this liquid. The front of the liquid is then analyzed to identify the compounds.

Abstract: An optical device (1) includes a cavity (2) for which at least part is ellipsoidal with a first focus (F1) and a second focus (F2). The device includes means of presenting a medium containing components to be analyzed in the cavity at the first focus, and the device also includes means of transporting an excitation light beam in the cavity along a path also passing through the first focus (F1) to illuminate the medium at the first focus. The ellipsoidal part of the cavity includes a wall reflecting light emitted by the medium in response to the excitation light beam, and the device includes means (5) of collecting said emitted light at the second focus (F2).

Abstract: A medium is analyzed for the search for an odorous biological molecule characteristic of a specific substance in an environment to be studied comprising the steps of: exposing a component containing at least one olfactory biological receptor, capable of selectively attaching the type of odorous molecule sought, to an atmosphere taken from the environment to be studied; irradiating that component by means of an incident laser radiation having a wavelength chosen in the ultraviolet close to the absorption wavelength for the olfactory receptor, to cause the excitation of a resonance Raman scattering in the irradiated component; and analyzing the Raman spectrum obtained to determine whether or not it corresponds to the Raman spectrum of the olfactory receptor having attached an odorous molecule of the type sought in the atmosphere sampled, so as to identify any presence of the specific substance mentioned in the environment to be studied.

Abstract: A medium is analysed for the search for an odorous biological molecule characteristic of a specific substance in an environment to be studied comprising the steps of: exposing a component containing at least one olfactory biological receptor, capable of selectively attaching the type of odorous molecule sought, to an atmosphere taken from the environment to be studied; irradiating that component by means of an incident laser radiation having a wavelength chosen in the ultraviolet close to the absorption wavelength for the olfactory receptor, to cause the excitation of a resonance Raman scattering in the irradiated component; and analysing the Raman spectrum obtained to determine whether or not it corresponds to the Raman spectrum of the olfactory receptor having attached an odorous molecule of the type sought in the atmosphere sampled, so as to identify any presence of the specific substance mentioned in the environment to be studied.

Abstract: This invention relates to an optical device (1) including a cavity (2) for which at least part is ellipsoidal with a first focus (F1) and a second focus (F2), the device including means of presenting a medium containing components to be analysed in the cavity at the first focus, the device also including means of transporting an excitation light beam in the cavity along a path also passing through the first focus (F1) to illuminate the medium at the first focus. The ellipsoidal part of the cavity includes a wall reflecting light emitted by the medium in response to the excitation light beam, the device including means (5) of collecting said emitted light at the second focus (F2).