Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an optical element (OE) which can serve as an optical analogue to digital converter (OADC) and/or an optical digital to analogue converter (ODAC), and uses therefor. The OE can be usefully employed in a variety of applications to transform analogue information present in a light wave front into digital light signals and/or to transform digital information into analogue information in the form of the physical parameters of a light wave front.
Abstract: The invention generally relates to a new gene probe biosensor employing near field surface enhanced Raman scattering (NFSERS) for direct spectroscopic detection of hybridized molecules (such as hybridized DNA) without the need for labels, and the invention also relates to methods for using the biosensor.