Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for identifying compounds using spectra generated by X-rays at two different voltage levels.

Abstract: In the operation of analytical devices, and particularly laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) devices, a number of advantages may be obtained by the use of complementary safety mechanisms, such as those that govern the operation or firing of a laser. Such complementary safety mechanisms, compared to the individual safety mechanisms acting alone, prevent operation of the laser under a greater number of unsafe circumstances (even if one or more detected conditions are safe, based on not activating the associated safety mechanism) and permits operation under a greater number of safe circumstances (even if one or more detected conditions are unsafe, based on activating the associated safety mechanism).

Abstract: An embodiment of a laser induced breakdown system is described that comprises a portable device that includes: a laser configured to produce a beam comprising a plurality of repeating pulses; a processor configured to open a data acquisition window after a delay period, wherein the delay period begins upon production of one of the pulses; one or more optical elements configured to direct the beam at a sample and collect emitted light from a plasma continuum; and an optical detector configured to produce a plurality of signal values from the emitted light from the plasma continuum collected during the data acquisition window, wherein the processor is configured to identify an element from the signal values.

Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed that allow for analysis with simplified sample preparation. Of particular relevance is the analysis of wire samples (e.g., weld wires) using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) or optical emission spectrometry (OES). Representative devices can isolate a sample, such as in a sealed, inert environment in an analytical instrument. These devices may include first and second sample end attachments connected to a body, which has a connecting portion that may be configured for alignment with the face of the instrument. The body may also include a rotatable cap, and the sample end attachments may be joined to this cap (e.g., at opposite ends thereof) to allow adjustment of the angular position of the sample, relative to the connecting portion, which in use may be affixed to the instrument.

Abstract: An embodiment of an X-ray tube is described that comprises an outer cylinder; a window positioned on an end of the outer cylinder; an electron gun comprising an emission orifice, wherein the electron gun is coupled to a side of the outer cylinder at an angle that orients the emission orifice toward the window; and a rod centrally positioned within the outer cylinder, wherein the rod comprises a concave geometry at a distal end proximal to the electron gun and a target surface configured at an angle that orients the target surface towards the emission orifice, wherein the concave geometry is configured to position the target surface to have a focal spot size of an electron beam from the emission orifice in range of about 2-6 ?m.

Abstract: An embodiment of a device for producing x-rays is described that comprises an x-ray tube and a high-voltage power supply electrically coupled to the x-ray tube, where the high-voltage power supply comprises a first stack of D shaped capacitors arranged in an opposed relationship with a second stack of D shaped capacitors.

Abstract: An embodiment of a laser induced breakdown system is described that comprises a portable device that includes: a laser configured to produce a beam comprising a plurality of repeating pulses; a processor configured to open a data acquisition window after a delay period, wherein the delay period begins upon production of one of the pulses; one or more optical elements configured to direct the beam at a sample and collect emitted light from a plasma continuum; and an optical detector configured to produce a plurality of signal values from the emitted light from the plasma continuum collected during the data acquisition window, wherein the processor is configured to identify an element from the signal values.

Abstract: A method of identifying the presence of heroin in an impure heroin composition which contains heroin and at least one fluorescent contaminant which interferes with a Raman signal from the heroin. The method may include contacting the mixture with a solvent such as an alcohol, then contacting the resulting alcohol composition with a SERS surface. The surface may then be exposed to laser light from a hand-held Raman spectrometer to detect a Raman signal from the heroin. An apparatus for performing the method is also provided.

Abstract: A spectrometer system comprising a housing configured as a handheld device with a screen; a source of narrow band illumination; a sensor that detects Raman scattering signals; a source of wide band illumination; an optical element that detect Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) signals; a memory device comprising a library of information with Raman scattering reference information and FTIR reference information; and a processor configured to execute software instructions, wherein the software instructions are configured to: direct the narrow band illumination to the sample; detect the Raman scattering signals; direct the wide band illumination to the sample; detect the FTIR signals; determine a composition of the sample from a similarity between the Raman scattering spectral information and the Raman scattering reference information, and from a similarity between the FTIR spectral information and the FTIR reference information; and display the composition of the sample on the screen.

Abstract: A device for producing x-rays includes: a housing that includes a folded high-voltage multiplier coupled to a filament transformer, the transformer coupled to an x-ray tube for producing the x-rays. A method of fabrication and an x-ray source are disclosed.

Abstract: A hand-held spectrometer includes at least one indicator light and a processor configured to control the at least one indicator light to indicate a state of the hand-held spectrometer selected from a group consisting of a background scanning state, a ready-to-scan-sample state, a signal strength state, a fluorescence intensity state, a sample match state, a sample classification state, an error state, a data transfer state, a battery charge state, and a memory capacity state. The sample match state can be, for example, one of a positive match state, a mixture match state, a negative match state, and a match error state. In some embodiments, the error state can be at least one of a background error state, a user error state, and an instrument error state, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus, kits, methods, and systems that include a radiation source configured to direct radiation to a sample; a detector configured to measure radiation from the sample; an electronic processor configured to determine information about the sample based on the measured radiation; a housing enclosing the source, the detector, and the electronic processor, the housing having a hand-held form factor; an arm configured to maintain a separation between the sample and the housing, the arm including a first end configured to connect to the housing and a second end configured to contact the sample; and a layer positioned on the second end of the arm, the layer being configured to contact the sample and to transmit at least a portion of the radiation from the sample to the detector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) sample chamber. An apparatus includes a sample chamber, a laser source connected to an excitation optics assembly, the excitation optics assembly connected to a first port on the sample chamber, a collimator assembly connected to a spectrometer, the collimator assembly connected to a second port on the sample chamber, and a first lens tube positioned on the first port and a second lens tube positioned on the second port, the first lens tube protecting the first port connected to the excitation optics assembly and the second lens tube protecting the second port connected to the collimator assembly from particles emitted when a laser pulse from the laser source ablates a surface of a target sample and generates a plasma.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention are directed to applying intimate contact pressures to samples while undergoing ATR infrared interrogation. As a general mode of operation, after a solid sample is placed on the ATR element, a force actuator moves an anvil arm to apply a contact force to the sample against the ATR. Thereafter, when the scan is over, the user can see the result of the one or more scans. The force actuator may be a motor or a solenoid or other type of force actuator. The applied contact force may be a fixed force or may be a user-selectable force or may be automatically controlled through feedback from the spectrometer based on the spectroscopic signature of the sample material.

Abstract: A spectrometer configurable for field analyses of chemical properties of a material is provided. The spectrometer includes: at least one sensor adapted for providing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) surveillance and at least another sensor for providing Raman spectroscopy surveillance. The spectrometer can be provided with a user accessible instruction set for modifying a sampling configuration of the spectrometer. A method of determining the most likely composition of a sample by at least two technologies using the spectrometer is also provided.

Abstract: A processing application receives peak information associated with multiple known references samples. The processing application partitions a spectrum into multiple different sized range bins such that a substantially equal number of the peaks associated with the known reference samples reside into each of the multiple different sized range bins. To identify a set of candidate reference samples in a library of reference samples that potentially are a good match an unknown sample under test, the processing application compares peaks associated with the unknown sample to the multiple different sized range bins. The greater the number of range bin matches based on peaks in the unknown sample and peaks in a corresponding reference sample, the greater the likelihood that the unknown sample matches the corresponding reference sample.