Abstract: A device for determining a polarization state of an electromagnetic wave includes a power splitter that splits an electromagnetic input wave into at least three partial waves; and at least three polarization converters for changing the polarization state of the partial waves. One of the polarization converters is associated with one of the three partial waves. The device includes an output coupler to which the partial waves are supplied after passing through the respective polarization converter and which includes at least three outputs. The output coupler is configured and the polarization converters are arranged and configured such that output waves exiting from the outputs of the output coupler have an intensity that each is dependent on one of the Stokes parameters of the input wave.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods for detecting events in a flow cytometer. Also provided are methods of detecting cells in a flow cytometer. Other aspects of the present disclosure include methods for determining a level of contamination in a flow cell. Computer-readable media and systems, e.g., for practicing the methods summarized above, are also provided.

Abstract: A monitorable hollow core (HC) optical fiber comprises one or more hollow core anti-resonant fiber (HC-ARF) segments and one or more monitoring segments alternatingly connected with the HC-ARF segments, and where each monitoring segment comprises one or more non-HC-ARF constituents. A method for monitoring a monitorable HC optical fiber comprises transmitting one or more first optical signals on the monitorable HC optical fiber, detecting one or more second optical signals on the monitorable HC optical fiber, and monitoring one or more optical properties of the monitorable HC optical fiber using the first optical signals and the second optical signals, where the monitoring is enabled as a result of interactions between the first optical signals and the non-HC-ARF constituents of the monitoring segments.

Abstract: Methods are provided for deriving a partially continuous dependency of metrology metric(s) on recipe parameter(s), analyzing the derived dependency, determining a metrology recipe according to the analysis, and conducting metrology measurement(s) according to the determined recipe. The dependency may be analyzed in form of a landscape such as a sensitivity landscape in which regions of low sensitivity and/or points or contours of low or zero inaccuracy are detected, analytically, numerically or experimentally, and used to configure parameters of measurement, hardware and targets to achieve high measurement accuracy. Process variation is analyzed in terms of its effects on the sensitivity landscape, and these effects are used to characterize the process variation further, to optimize the measurements and make the metrology both more robust to inaccuracy sources and more flexible with respect to different targets on the wafer and available measurement conditions.

Abstract: In order to optically sense a yarn moved in the longitudinal direction of the yarn, a yarn sensor has a light source, a detector and a light guiding element. The yarn sensor is based on the effect of frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR). Because of the FTIR effect, scattered light exiting the light guiding element in the contact region between the yarn and an outer surface of the light guiding element is detected by means of the detector, in which case sensing of the yarn lying against the outer surface is enabled. Alternatively, the reduced intensity in the totally internally reflected beam is then sensed by the detector. The intensity in the totally internally reflected beam is reduced mainly by the scattered light coupled out of the light guiding element.

Abstract: A head provided to a shape measuring apparatus includes a translucent stylus head that displaces integrally with a light source and a photoreceiver, and is arranged between the light source and the photoreceiver. The stylus head includes an incident portion that causes the light from the light source to be incident on an interior of the stylus head, a reflection portion that totally reflects the incident light, and a light emission portion that emits the light that is totally reflected toward the photoreceiver. Evanescent light is generated at the measurement surface by the light that is totally reflected by the total reflection surface. The stylus head brings the measurement surface and a surface of a measurable object to face each other, separates the measurement surface from the surface of the measurable object, and is arranged such that the evanescent light reaches the surface of the measurable object.

Abstract: A metrology target includes: a first structure arranged to be created by a first patterning process; and a second structure arranged to be created by a second patterning process, wherein the first structure and/or second structure is not used to create a functional aspect of a device pattern, and wherein the first and second structures together form one or more instances of a unit cell, the unit cell having geometric symmetry at a nominal physical configuration and wherein the unit cell has a feature that causes, at a different physical configuration than the nominal physical configuration due to a relative shift in pattern placement in the first patterning process, the second patterning process and/or another patterning process, an asymmetry in the unit cell.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a device manufacturing process, the method including; obtaining an estimated time variation of a process parameter; determining, on the basis of the estimated time variation, a sampling plan for measurements to be performed on a plurality of substrates to obtain information about the process parameter; measuring substrates in accordance with the sampling plan to obtain a plurality of measurements; and determining an actual time variation of the process parameter on the basis of the measurements.

Abstract: A device for measuring the state of a phase change material inside a vessel, the device includes at least one optical fiber arranged inside the vessel, the optical fiber including a cladding around a core, a light source emitting light coupled into a first end of the at least one optical fiber at a wavelength ?, optical measuring devices for measuring the amount of light at the output at a second end of the at least one optical fiber. The at least one optical fiber also includes a plurality of sections with the cladding removed so that at these sections the core is in direct contact with the phase change material inside the vessel and where the refractive index at the wavelength ? of the core is higher than that of the phase change material in a first phase and lower in a second phase.

Abstract: A system in an embodiment can comprise an optical assembly, an SPR light source, and an SPR camera. The optical assembly in this embodiment can comprise a hemispherical prism comprising a planar top surface configured to support a surface-plasmon-resonance (SPR) sensor; a high numerical aperture (NA) lens; and a housing configured to mount the hemispherical prism and the high NA lens the such that the high NA lens is located distal from the planar top surface of the hemispherical prism. The SPR light source in this embodiment can be configured to emit a low-coherent monochromatic light beam for SPR imaging toward the high NA lens. The SPR camera in this embodiment can be configured to capture an SPR image formed after the low-coherent monochromatic light beam is incident upon and reflected by a metal-coated sample contacting surface of the SPR sensor.

Abstract: A low energy particle detection device comprises alight source, multiple photodetectors positioned at different scattering angles, and a microcontroller for computing a total mass concentration of fine and ultrafine particles and a mass fraction of ultrafine particles to fine particles in an incoming air particle airflow based on the ratio of the readings from the multiple photodetectors. The optical particle detection device also can determine surface area concentration of the air particle sample and the associated lung deposited surface area (LDSA) to measure and improve estimates of air quality.

Abstract: A calibration material may be used to calibrate an optical sensor to help ensure that the optical sensor produces accurate measurements. In some examples, the calibration material may be used to calibrate both turbidity measurements made by an optical sensor and fluorometric measurements made by the same optical sensor. The calibration material may be an aqueous mixture that includes water in an amount greater than 70 percent by weight of the composition, inorganic, water-insoluble, light-scattering particles, and a viscosity modifier in an amount effective to maintain the inorganic, water-insoluble, light-scattering particles in suspension in the composition. The composition can be non-fluorescing when exposed to ultraviolet light. In addition, in some applications, the composition is formulated of food safe ingredients, allowing the composition to be used in facilities that process consumable foods and beverages.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optoelectronic distributed measuring device based on optical fiber, said device comprising a continuous light source (1) emitting a continuous light signal at a first frequency ?0, an acousto-optical modulator (6) capable of transforming said continuous signal into a pulse signal to be injected into an optical fiber (15) to be tested, and a photodetection module (10) capable of detecting a backscattering signal from a Rayleigh backscattering and a spontaneous Brillouin backscattering from said optical fiber (15) to be tested, said device being characterized in that it further comprises a first coupler (3) and a second coupler (9), said second coupler (9) being capable of mixing the signal of the local oscillator with the backscattering signal from said optical fiber (15) to be tested before transmitting it to the photodetection module (10), the backscattering signal being modulated at least at a frequency ?rB equal to ?0??bref+?A+?bAS, where ?bAS is the anti-Stokes Brillouin (backs

Abstract: It is therefore an objective to provide an object multi-perspective inspection apparatus and a method therefor. The apparatus includes an image capture device; an inspection site and at least two reflection devices, being arranged for reflecting simultaneously to the image capture device at least two different side views of the object located in the inspection site; wherein: the image capture device has a field of view including the at least two different side views of the reflection. By introducing reflection devices into the inspection apparatus to enable the image capture device to “see” the part from multiple views at once, multiple surfaces can be inspected at once, in one image frame, without having the need to reposition the reflection device, the camera and/or the object for every single surface. There are more than one reflection devices placed in the camera's field of view to assist the inspection process by exploiting otherwise hidden surfaces of any given solid object.

Abstract: An optical sensing system includes a planar optical waveguide having a first surface for detection and a second surface for coupling light. The optical sensing system includes a functional layer integral with the first surface of the planar optical waveguide, and a coupling layer in contact with the second surface of the planar optical waveguide, the coupling layer having a lower refractive index than the planar optical waveguide. The optical sensing system includes an optical source arranged to illuminate at least a portion of the second surface of the planar optical waveguide through the coupling layer with substantially critical optical coupling. The optical sensing system also includes an optical detector arranged to receive a portion of light from the optical source after being reflected from the first surface of the planar optical waveguide and passing through the coupling layer.

Abstract: A method of monitoring mechanical behavior of an undersea pipe (2) transporting fluid under pressure and made by assembling a plurality of unit pipe elements (4). A calibration step is performed consisting of using a measurement cable having an optical fiber sensor to measure deformations experienced by each pipe element while it is subjected on land to various mechanical stresses in predetermined directions and magnitudes, and, on the basis of the measurements, establishing the mechanical signature of each pipe element. A monitoring step is performed consisting of using a measurement cable (18) having an optical fiber sensor that makes uses Brillouin backscattering and is helically positioned at constant pitch (p) on each pipe element with the handedness of the helical pitch alternating for two adjacent pipe elements to recover variations in optical signal injected into the sensors while the pipe is in service.

Abstract: A handheld hemoglobin detecting device has a housing assembly including a holding base, a tubular housing and a liquid holder, a control module disposed on the housing assembly, and a lighting assembly mounted in the tubular housing and including a light emitting module, a light concentrator, and a light guide. At least one light beam emitted from the light emitting module passes through and is concentrated by the light concentrator to shine on the liquid holder, is reflected by a light reflector that is disposed in the liquid holder, enters the light guide, and is transmitted to a light sensor. The handheld hemoglobin detecting device has a simplified structure and is easy to assemble, and thus is light and has low manufacturing cost. Moreover, a lower accuracy in assembling the lighting assembly can be tolerated.

Abstract: A circular dichroism spectrometer which comprises a metasurface. The metasurface has a plurality of anisotropic antennas configured to simultaneously spatially separate LCP and RCP spectral components from an incoming light beam. An optical detector array is included which detects the LCP and RCP spectral components. A transparent medium is situated between the metasurface and the optical detector array.

Abstract: This automatic analysis apparatus is provided with: an analysis port comprising a reaction container holding part that holds a reaction container storing the liquid mixture of a sample and a reagent, a light source that emits light to the liquid mixture stored in the reaction container held by the reaction container holding part, and a detector that detects light generated when the light from the light source is emitted to the liquid mixture; and a control unit that controls the analysis port, and analyzes the sample on the basis of information about the detected light.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing a surface of an object includes the steps as follows. A light beam is modulated by a spatial light modulator (SLM) and is projected to form a pattern, wherein the pattern has a transmittance distribution in a cosine distribution such that the pattern is formed to become a fringe pattern with a periodic change. A first impulse and a second impulse present within a first period and a second period of the cosine distribution, wherein a position where the first impulse occurs within the first period and a position where the second impulse occurs within the second period are different. The light beam is guided to an object so as to form a scan pattern on the object. The scan pattern is read. According to the scan pattern, a surface profile of the object is calculated.