Abstract: An analyzer for analyzing a composition of a sample, and methods of operating an analyzer. The analyzer may include an optical illuminator and a Raman spectrometer to produce Raman spectral data representative of Raman radiation emitted from the sample in response to the illuminating light. Features to reduce background fluorescence are optionally provided. An x-ray illuminator may be provided to illuminate the sample with x-rays, and also an x-ray spectrometer may be present to produce x-ray spectral data representative of fluorescence radiation emitted from the sample in response to the illuminating x-rays. A processor receives the Raman spectral data and any x-ray spectral data and provides an analysis of a compound in the sample.

Abstract: Particles of a flow of aerosol are collected and analyzed by passing them through a housing having an inlet area, an outlet area, and a collection and analysis area interconnecting the inlet and outlet areas. A collection electrode has a tip disposed in the collection and analysis area and particles are collected thereon. After collection, the particles are ablated and atomic emissions are collected for analysis of the particles.

Abstract: An OCT system and particularly its clock system generates a k-clock signal but also generates an optical frequency reference sweep signal that, for example, indicates the start of the sweep or an absolute frequency reference associated with the sweep at least for the purposes of sampling of the interference signal and/or processing of that interference signal into the OCT images. The clock system is also tunable to allow the control or flexibility over the relationship between the scanning of the swept optical signal and the sampling of the interference signal by the data acquisition system. Specifically, the absolute frequencies of the swept optical signal at which the k-clock signals are generated can be adjusted. Also, the absolute frequency of the swept optical signal at which sampling of the interference signal is initiated can also be changed or stabilized. Moreover, optical frequency sampling interval defined by the k-clock signal can be changed under user control or simply stabilized.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining wall thickness of a structure such as a metallic pressurized pipe. The system includes an optical fiber having a plurality of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs), and a mounting for securing the FBGs over discrete portions of the exterior surface of the pipe such that strain in the pressurized pipe wall is transmitted to the FBGs. The system further includes a light source and a light sensor coupled to an end of the optical fiber. The light sensor converts light reflected back from the FBGs into electrical signals that a digital processor converts into strain measurements. The FBGs are mounted around portions of the pipe expected to have significant metal loss as well as portions of the pipe expected to have negligible metal loss.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing an optical surface comprising an array of holograms. The array includes a plurality of individual holograms arranged in an M×N format, in which M is the number of rows and N is the number of columns in the array. The array of holograms is positioned between the optical surface and a wavefront sensor. The array of holograms reflects a reference beam back to the wavefront sensor, and transmits a test beam to the optical surface. The array of holograms also receives the test beam reflected from the optical surface and transfers the test beam back to the wavefront sensor.

Abstract: A spectrograph including light beam reformatting element(s), beam expander(s), dispersive element(s) and light receiving element(s). The light beam reformatting element(s) reformat a received light beam into a reformatted light beam having a first dimension along a first axis that is larger than a dimension of the received light beam along the first axis and a second dimension along a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis that is smaller than a dimension of the received light beam along the second axis. The beam expander(s) anamorphically expand the reformatted light beam along the second axis into an expanded light beam. The dispersive element(s) disperse the expanded light beam along the second axis, resulting in a dispersed light beam. The light receiving element(s) receive the dispersed light beam. The light receiving element(s) may include one or more detectors to measure spectral intensity of the dispersed light beam.

Abstract: The present invention includes a camera configured to collect light reflected from the surface of a specimen, a two beam interference optical system including: an illumination source; a reference mirror configured to reflect substantially less light from a center region than from a peripheral region; and a first beam splitter configured to direct a first portion of light from the illumination source along an object path and a second portion of light from the illumination source along a reference path, wherein the camera and reference mirror are arranged such that light reflected from the reference mirror does not impinge on a FOV of the camera; and an autofocusing system disposed along a secondary optical axis, wherein the autofocusing system is configured to analyze one or more interference fringes created by a superposition of light reflected from the specimen surface and the peripheral region of the reference mirror surface.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of probes, apparatus, systems and methods can be provided which provide at least one electro-magnetic radiation to at least one sample. For example, a plurality of axicon lenses can be provided which are configured to provide the electro-magnetic radiation(s) having at least partially annulus shape. In addition or alternatively, at least one optical arrangement can be provided which is configured to forward at least one radiation to the sample therethrough having at least partially circularly-symmetric pattern. For example, at least one first portion of the radiation transmitted through a circular section of the pattern can have an optical path-length that is different from an optical path-length of at least one second portion of the radiation transmitted through at least one other section of the pattern.

Abstract: A light-interference measuring apparatus including: a light source of a broad band light; an objective lens section to branch an optical path of the broad band light into a reference optical path including a reference mirror and a measuring optical path including a measuring object and to output a superposed wave of two branched lights; and an optical path length changing section to change an optical path length of either the reference optical path or the measuring optical path; wherein the objective lens section includes a phase difference control member to control a phase difference between the reference light and the object light to generate destructive interference fringes, and a minimum luminance position detecting section to detect minimum luminance position of the destructive interference fringes.

Abstract: A miniaturized imaging system is provided that operates in multiple modes, including a coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering (CARS) mode. The imaging system includes: a laser delivery subsystem that generates an excitation signal; a scanning mechanism configured to receive the excitation signal from the laser delivery subsystem and direct the excitation signal through an optics subsystem onto a sample, such that the optics subsystem compensates for chromatic aberration in the excitation signal; and a dichroic mirror that receives emission from the sample in a backward direction and directs the emission along a collection path to a detector. The light source for the laser delivery subsystem may be a single femtosecond pulse laser.

Abstract: Sensors operate by resolving changes in orientation of a wavelength dependent structure with respect to a reference direction determined by an incident light beam, resulting in very high sensitivity and dynamic range. Said sensors are wavelength encoded, can be multiplexed in a single light path such as an optical fiber, yet are decoupled mechanically from the fiber, resulting in high stability.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus that provide for precise and continuously-controlled generation of hyperfine polarizations and coherences in samples of laser cooled atoms. In one example, coherent population trapping induced by Raman pulses with preselected parameters (such as phase and duration) is employed as a mechanism for producing well-controlled atomic coherences and polarizations. In one example, these coherences and polarizations are used to provide precision polarization references for normalization of polarization readout measurements, and/or to provide precision phase references for phase storage or phase comparison.

Abstract: A triggering light grid and a method for registering the position of containers and/or for checking their alignment on a conveyance path. Due to the fact that a plurality of light barriers provided at different height levels with respect to the conveyance path and having light sources that can be activated separately of one another and a shared housing are provided, as is a triggering unit for the generation of control signals on the basis of output signals of the light barriers, different container types can be registered by reprogramming the triggering light grid without mechanical adjustment of the same.

Abstract: Two dimensional (2D) optical spectroscopy, wherein the spectrum has an excitation and an emission axis, reveals information formerly hidden in one-dimensional (1D) optical spectroscopy. However, current two dimensional optical spectroscopy systems are complex laboratory arrangements and accordingly limited in deployment. According to embodiments of the invention a monolithic platform providing significantly reduced complexity and increased robustness is provided allowing for “black-box” modules allowing commercial deployment of 2D optical spectroscopy instruments. Additionally, the invention supports high pulse repetition rates as well as one quantum and two quantum measurements under electronic control.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods can include an optical waveguide coupled to a photonic crystal comprising a dielectric material, the photonic crystal located on an exterior surface of the optical waveguide and comprising a first surface including a first array of periodic features on or within the dielectric material, the array extending in at least two dimensions and including an effective dielectric permittivity different from the surrounding dielectric material. In an example, the periodic features include a specified lattice constant, the periodic features configured to extract a portion of propagating optical energy from the waveguide through the photonic crystal, the portion determined at least in part by the specified lattice constant.

Abstract: In an optical position-measuring device for recording the relative position of a scanning unit and a measuring standard, the scanning unit includes a light source, first annular scanning graduation, reflector element, beamsplitter element, and detection unit. A beam emitted by the light source impinges on the measuring graduation and is split into at least two partial beams of rays. The partial beams propagate toward the scanning unit, impinge the first scanning graduation on the reflector element, are reflected through the first scanning graduation toward the measuring graduation, impinge the measuring graduation, propagate toward the scanning unit and undergo superposition, and are deflected by the beamsplitter element toward the detection unit. There, a plurality of positionally dependent, phase-shifted scanning signals can be recorded.

Abstract: Detection and characterization of immunologically detected substances are performed electronically on human and animal biological fluids such as whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, milk, pleural and peritoneal fluids, and semen, which fluids are contained in a thin chamber forming a quiescent fluid sample, which chamber has at least two parallel planar walls, at least one of which is transparent.

Abstract: An analytical device such as a flow cytometer is provided in which a fluid sample flowing through a channel is focused into multiple, parallel particle streams by an acoustic wave field extending across the channel. Each stream is then presented to an individual detector to allow for simultaneous interrogation of the multiple streams and thus, high-throughput analysis of the fluid sample.

Abstract: A process for entangling quantum states of respective quantum systems measures electromagnetic radiation emitted from a first system and from a second system. The two systems are exposed to excitation radiation having a probability per time of producing a photon, and an interference element is coupled to receive photons from the first and second systems. The process further includes measuring a time during which the first and second systems were exposed to the excitation radiation before a photon is detected on either output channel of the interference element and applying an electromagnetic pulse that causes a relative phase shift of a portion of a quantum state of the first and second systems. Parameters of the electromagnetic pulse are selected based on measurements of the electromagnetic radiation from the first and second systems and the time measured.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for testing a non-symmetric (e.g., phi-polynomial) surface. The apparatus uses several simple (singlet) optical elements (e.g., an Offner null configuration) and a tilted optic under test in combination with an active optical element (e.g., actuated, deformable membrane mirror, optical phase modulator, etc.) that together form a null or quasi-null that allows for conventional null-based interferometry. This solution solves the problem of exceeding the dynamic range of a conventional interferometer when trying to test non-symmetric optical surfaces.