Abstract: A microsecond-scale stimulated Raman spectroscopic imaging system having a light source, such as a laser output that provides two femtosecond laser beams and a modulator to modulate the laser intensity at frequency between about 1 and about 100 megahertz. The system can further include a medium that chirps the two femtosecond beams to generate a spectral focus in a specimen, and a galvo mirror or resonant mirror pair to scan the two femtosecond beams in two dimension on the specimen. An objective lens can focus the two laser beams into a specimen or sample and a resonant delay scanner configured to produce an optical delay to the pair of chirped beams in said specimen and a tuned amplifier or lock-in amplifier can be used to extract the stimulated Raman-signal shift at the aforementioned modulation frequency.

Abstract: A measurement system comprises a pulsed, near-infrared array of laser diodes, the laser diode array comprising Bragg reflectors, and wherein laser diode light is configured to penetrate tissue comprising skin. A detection system comprising a camera is synchronized to the laser diodes, and the camera is configured to receive some of the laser diode light reflected from the tissue. The detection system is configured to non-invasively measure blood within the skin, the detection system is configured to measure absorption of hemoglobin in the wavelength range between 700 and 1300 nanometers, and the processor is configured to compare the absorption of hemoglobin between different spatial locations of tissue and over a period of time. Physiological parameters are measured by the system. The measurement system is configured to use artificial intelligence in making decisions, and the system is further configured to use regression signal processing, multivariate data analysis, or component analysis techniques.

Abstract: A method for performing a noise removal operation includes decomposing an acquired signal considered as one dimensional series. A trajectory matrix is constructed, transforming the trajectory matrix in a form to which single value decomposition is applicable. A single value decomposition is done on the transformed matrix computing eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the matrix. A one dimensional series is reconstructed, corresponding to the denoised signal. After the single value decomposition operation is provided, a single value decomposition is applied sequentially starting from a given window value. For each iteration, the root mean square value is calculated between a current and previous eigenvalue, calculating a minimum and its position of said root mean square value. The iterations are halted if the minimum is lower than a determined threshold value, otherwise increasing the window value and returning to the operation of decomposition of the acquired signal.

Abstract: A system includes an optical computing device having an optical multiplexer that receives a sample light generated by an optical interaction between a sample and an illumination light is provided. The system includes sensing elements that optically interact with the sample light to generate modified lights, and a detector that measures a property of the modified lights separately. Linear and nonlinear models for processing data collected with the above system to form high-resolution spectra are also provided. Methods for designing optimal optical multiplexers for optimal reconstruction of high-resolution spectra are also provided.

Abstract: An attachment device comprising a cover, with first and second windows, is affixed to a backing, with third and fourth windows, thereby forming a casing. The first and third windows form a first optical path with light entering the third window passing through the first window. The second and fourth windows form a second optical path with light entering the second window passing through the fourth window. A filter housing with a plurality of filters is driven by a motor so that the filters intercept the first optical path in accordance with an imaging regimen electronically stored in the casing interior. The imaging regimen communicates instructions, via a communications interface of the attachment device, to an imager and light source of an external device, to which the attachment device is attached, thereby controlling these components in accordance with the regimen.

Abstract: An atomic sensing method, the method including providing a polarization converter; emitting a linearly polarized polychromatic laser beam to the polarization converter; converting, by the polarization converter, the linearly polarized polychromatic laser beam into a circularly-polarized laser beam and a linearly-polarized laser beam; combining the circularly-polarized laser beam and the linearly-polarized laser beam thereby yielding a multi-polarization polychromatic laser beam; transmitting the multi-polarization polychromatic laser beam to an atomic vapor cell comprising alkali metal atoms, polarizing the multi-polarization polychromatic laser beam into two laser beams, and detecting the two laser beams by two photodetectors, respectively.

Abstract: A compact, portable Raman spectrometer makes fast, sensitive standoff measurements at little to no risk of eye injury or igniting the materials being probed. This spectrometer uses differential Raman spectroscopy and ambient light measurements to measure point-and-shoot Raman signatures of dark or highly fluorescent materials at distances of 1 cm to 10 m or more. It scans the Raman pump beam(s) across the sample to reduce the risk of unduly heating or igniting the sample. Beam scanning also transforms the spectrometer into an instrument with a lower effective safety classification, reducing the risk of eye injury. The spectrometer's long standoff range automatic focusing make it easier to identify chemicals through clear and translucent obstacles, such as flow tubes, windows, and containers. And the spectrometer's components are light and small enough to be packaged in a handheld housing or housing suitable for a small robot to carry.

Abstract: There is provided a method of tuning a resonant cavity and a cavity ring-down spectroscopy system using the same. A first mirror is actuated at a first end of a resonant cavity to move in a direction between a first position relative to a second mirror at a second end of the resonant cavity, at which a cavity length between the first mirror and the second mirror is less than a resonance length for a laser beam, and a second position relative to the second mirror, at which the cavity length is greater than the resonance length. An event is triggered when the cavity length is proximal to the resonance length. The first mirror is continuously actuated in the direction between the first position and the second position during the event.

Abstract: A measurement system comprises a pulsed laser diode array that includes one or more Bragg reflectors, and wherein the light generated by the array penetrates tissue comprising skin. At least some of the wavelengths of light are in the near infrared. The detection system is synchronized to the laser diode array and comprises an infrared camera and a first receiver comprising a plurality of detectors. The first receiver comprises one or more detector arrays and performs a time-of-flight measurement. The measurement system generates an image, the detection system non-invasively measures blood in blood vessels within or below a dermis layer within the skin based at least in part on near-infrared diffuse reflection from the skin, and the detection system measures absorption of hemoglobin between 700 and 1300 nanometers wavelength range. A processor compares the absorption of hemoglobin between different tissue spatial locations, and the measurement system processes the time-of-flight measurement.

Abstract: Methods of characterizing ion-exchanged chemically strengthened Li-containing glasses include: a) measuring a mode spectrum of the glass sample; b) using the mode spectrum, estimating a first contribution to the center tension associated with a spike region and estimating a second contribution to the center tension due to a deep region only, wherein the deep region is assumed to follow a power-law stress profile; and c) determining a total center tension by adding of the first and second contributions to the center tension. The methods can be used for quality control during manufacturing of glass samples by comparing the total center tension to a center tension specification that provides optimum strength and durability.

Abstract: An observation apparatus in this embodiment includes a light source configured to irradiate an observation target with light, and a processing unit configured to generate an image based on Rayleigh scattered light derived from ?(3) included in light obtained from the observation target.

Abstract: A metrology apparatus is disclosed that has an optical system to focus radiation onto a structure and directs redirected radiation from the structure to a detection system. The optical system applies a plurality of different offsets of an optical characteristic to radiation before and/or after redirected by the structure, such that a corresponding plurality of different offsets are provided to redirected radiation derived from a first point of a pupil plane field distribution relative to redirected radiation derived from a second point of the pupil plane field distribution. The detection system detects a corresponding plurality of radiation intensities resulting from interference between the redirected radiation derived from the first point of the pupil plane field distribution and the redirected radiation derived from the second point of the pupil plane field distribution. Each radiation intensity corresponds to a different one of the plurality of different offsets.

Abstract: An apparatus or method determines a salinity or metal content a liquid sample by scanning the liquid sample using a PXRF spectrometer, receiving a PXRF spectra from the PXRF spectrometer, baseline correcting and smoothing the received PXRF spectra, extracting a K? emission line of one or more elements from the baseline corrected and smoothed PXRF spectra using only one beam from the PXRF spectrometer, determining the salinity or the metal content of the liquid sample using the one or more processors and a predictive model that relates the K? emission line of the one or more elements to the salinity or the metal content of the liquid sample, and providing the salinity or the metal content of the liquid sample to the one or more input/output interfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus or method determines an elemental composition of a sample by scanning a sample using a PXRF spectrometer, receiving a PXRF spectra from the PXRF spectrometer, baseline correcting and smoothing the received PXRF spectra, extracting a K? emission line of one or more elements from the baseline corrected and smoothed PXRF spectra from the PXRF spectrometer, determining the elemental composition of the sample using a predictive model that relates the K? emission line of the one or more elements to the elemental composition of the sample, and providing the elemental composition of the sample to the one or more input/output interfaces.

Abstract: An optical head includes a first module that concentrates pump light and Stokes light on a first point; a second module that collects CARS light from the first point; and a third module that supports the first module and the second module. The first module includes: a high rigidity first frame; and a first optical system including a plurality of optical elements fixed to the first frame. The second module includes: a high rigidity second frame; and a second optical system including a plurality of optical elements fixed to the second frame. The third module includes a high rigidity third frame that fixes the first frame and the second frame.

Abstract: A variable-frequency light source is configured to emit a light beam and modulate a frequency of the light beam. A fiber optic cable is attached to the variable frequency light source. The fiber optic cable is configured to receive the light beam at an inlet and pass the light beam to an exit. Multiple optical detectors are attached to the fiber optic cable. Each of the optical detectors is configured to detect a specified frequency of light that is backscattered through the fiber optic cable. An actuation mechanism is attached to the fiber optic cable. The actuation mechanism is configured to deform the fiber optic cable in response to a stimulus.

Abstract: A spectrometer includes a light conduit configured to align scattered light scattered in a target by light output from a light source into a collimated beam, and a beam block configured to restrict an angle of the scattered light and detect the scattered light via the light conduit or the beam block through a filter array and a detector, thereby achieving miniaturization in a pen type or a flat plate shape while maintaining a spectral characteristic.

Abstract: A vacuum manifold for filtration microscopy includes a manifold top having multiple openings, and a capture membrane positioned above and spaced apart from the manifold top, where the capture membrane is configured to deflect into contact with a surface of the manifold top when a negative pressure is applied to the multiple openings. A method for filtration microscopy includes the steps of providing a vacuum manifold including a manifold top having a plurality of openings, and a capture membrane positioned above and spaced apart from the manifold top; applying sample drops to sample spots on the membrane, the sample spots positioned above the plurality of openings; applying a negative pressure to the openings such that the capture membrane contacts a surface of the manifold top; and optically imaging particulates on the capture membrane.

Abstract: A method of detecting an endpoint of a plasma process applied to a substrate is provided. The method includes: monitoring a time series of intensity of a predetermined wavelength component in an emission spectrum obtained by optical emission spectroscopy; monitoring a time series of intensity of a predetermined component in a mass spectrum obtained by mass spectrometry; calculating a signal used for detecting the endpoint of the plasma process by performing an arithmetic operation using the monitored time series of intensity of the predetermined wavelength component in the emission spectrum and the monitored time series of intensity of the predetermined component in the mass spectrum; and detecting the endpoint of the plasma process based on the signal calculated by the arithmetic operation.

Abstract: A device or system to measure a soiling level and/or soiling level non-uniformity, or power loss arising from soiling including soiling non-uniformity, representative of a PV module. In one respect, a device comprising at least a first transparent window and at least two sensors, wherein said sensors comprise a soiling sensor, an irradiance sensor, or a photovoltaic device, and wherein at least two of said sensors are configured to measure separate regions of said first transparent window and at least one of said sensors is a soiling sensor configured to measure a soiling level of said first transparent window or of a second transparent window substantially close to said first transparent window, and wherein from said measurements of said sensors said device determines a soiling level and/or a non-uniformity of said soiling level of said first transparent window.