Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the two-dimensional reconstruction of wave fronts (104) of light for use in an optical system (100) comprising: measuring the distribution function of the light intensity in at least two images at different optical planes (101, 102) having an optical path difference. In particular this method is suitable for probing the tomographical distribution of wave fronts of electromagnetic fields with an image detector, e.g. any standard two-dimensional camera.

Abstract: A method for determining properties of a laboratory sample contained in a laboratory sample container is presented. The method comprises measuring projections of the laboratory sample container comprising the laboratory sample by irradiating light to the laboratory sample container at different projection angle and determining the properties by tomographic reconstruction based on the projections.

Abstract: A method for quality testing asphalt includes: directing light from a light source to at least one surface of asphalt; detecting light reflected or refracted from the at least one surface of the asphalt using a light detector; and assigning a number indicating the quality of the asphalt in response to detecting light reflected or refracted from the at least one surface of the asphalt.

Abstract: Disclosed is a blood analyzer that includes: a sample preparation unit configured to mix a blood specimen and a fluorescent dye for staining nucleic acid to prepare a measurement sample; a light receiver configured to receive fluorescence and scattered light that are generated by light being applied to the measurement sample prepared by the sample preparation unit; and a controller programmed to determine whether or not infection with Plasmodium has occurred, on the basis of a value representing variation of a distribution of first particles in a range where single-ring form of red blood cells appear, the range where single-ring form of red blood cells appear being identified according to fluorescence intensities and scattered light intensities obtained by processing of signals from the light receiver.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for rapid detection of a specific bacterial species. The method includes preparing a sample, irradiating the prepared sample with an electromagnetic radiation of specific wavelength, capturing the electromagnetic radiation scattered by the sample to obtain a Raman spectra and analyzing the Raman spectra to obtain a unique biochemical signature. The unique biochemical signature identifies a single bacterium within the sample. The method also provides for rapid detection of a group of bacterial species within the sample. The method takes about 1 minute to about 1 hour for the detection of specific bacterial species.

Abstract: One example includes a fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) system that includes a fiber coil. The coil includes an optical fiber wound around a spool of a FOG. The optical fiber includes a first input and a second input. The system also includes an optical beam controller comprising an optical switch that provides a first optical beam to the first input and a second optical beam to the second input during a first switching state, and provides the first optical beam to the second input and the second optical beam to the first input during a second switching state. The system further includes a controller that mitigates bias error in determining rotation of the FOG based on comparing the first and second optical beams output from the FOG during the first and second switching states.

Abstract: A system and method for surface inspection of an object using multiplexed optical coherence tomography (OCT) is provided. The method includes moving the object relative to two or more scanner heads along a direction of travel; alternatingly directing a sample beam to each of the two or more scanner heads; and when the sample beam is directed at each respective scanner head, scanning comprising: steering the sample beam from the respective scanner head to an unscanned region on the surface of the object; and performing an A-scan of the object.

Abstract: An improved technique for acoustic sensing involves, in one embodiment, launching into a medium, a plurality of groups of pulse-modulated electromagnetic-waves. The frequency of electromagnetic waves in a pulse within a group differs from the frequency of the electromagnetic waves in another pulse within the group. The energy scattered by the medium is detected and, in one embodiment, the beat signal may be used to determine a characteristic of the environment of the medium. For example, if the medium is a buried optical fiber into which light pulses have been launched in accordance with the invention, the presence of acoustic waves within the region of the buried fiber can be detected.

Abstract: An improved technique for acoustic sensing involves, in one embodiment, launching into a medium, a plurality of groups of pulse-modulated electromagnetic-waves. The frequency of electromagnetic waves in a pulse within a group differs from the frequency of the electromagnetic waves in another pulse within the group. The energy scattered by the medium is detected and, in one embodiment, may be used to determine a characteristic of the environment of the medium. For example, if the medium is a buried optical fiber into which light pulses have been launched in accordance with the invention, the presence of acoustic waves within the region of the buried fiber can be detected.

Abstract: A micro-cavity holder has an upper surface and a lower surface with a major recess in a generally cylindrical configuration. The major recess has an exterior periphery. The micro-cavity holder has a central aperture with a cylindrical central region and a lower region. A probe has a generally cylindrical configuration with an upper section and a lower section. The upper section has an exterior periphery removably received in the major recess to removably couple the probe and the micro-cavity holder. Cylindrical openings extend axially through the upper and lower sections of the probe and terminate above in a central recess. A transparent member is removably positioned in the central recess for receiving and supporting bodily fluids.

Abstract: A first wavelength-shifted exit signal is interfered with a first reference beam and a second wavelength-shifted exit signal is interfered with a second reference beam. The first wavelength-shifted exit signal and the second wavelength-shifted exit signal have different wavelengths. A first and second interference pattern are captured by an image sensor in a single image capture. The first reference beam is incident on the image sensor at a first reference angle and the second reference beam is incident on the image sensor at a second reference angle different from the first reference angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (2) for detecting imaging quality of an optical system (4) with at least one lens (6) or lens group. The apparatus (2) includes an MTF measuring apparatus (10) for measuring a modulation transfer function at a plurality of field points in the field of view of the optical system (4), and a centering measuring apparatus (18) for measuring a centered state of the optical system (4). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for detecting imaging quality of an optical system (4) having such a apparatus (2).

Abstract: An optical line testing device for measuring at least a cutting position of an optical line according to the present invention includes: a first wavelength tunable laser source configured to generate a first optical signal in which a plurality of wavelengths appear alternately and periodically; a second wavelength tunable laser source configured to generate a second optical signal which is identical to the first optical signal but has an adjustable delay time; and an interferometer configured to cause interference between a reflected optical signal, corresponding to the first optical signal, which is returning after having been emitted to the optical line, and the second optical signal to output an interference signal.

Abstract: An optical module includes: a mirror unit having a movable mirror and a fixed mirror; a beam splitter unit; a light incident unit that causes measurement light to be incident to the beam splitter unit; a first light detector that detects interference light of the measurement light; a second light source that emits laser light; a second light detector that detects interference light of the laser light; a first mirror that allows the measurement light to be transmitted therethrough and reflects the laser light; a second mirror that reflects a part of the laser light and allows the remainder of the laser light to be transmitted therethrough; a third mirror that reflects the laser light; and a return light suppressing unit that suppresses the laser light from becoming return light, and is disposed on a side opposite to the second optical device with respect to the second mirror.

Abstract: An optical metrology device, such as an interferometer, detects sub-resolution defects on a sample, i.e., defects that are smaller than a pixel in the detector array of the interferometer. The optical metrology device obtains optical metrology data at each pixel in at least one detector array and determines parameter values of a signal model for a pixel of interest using the optical metrology data received by a plurality of pixels neighboring a pixel of interest. A residual for the pixel of interest is determined using the optical metrology data received by the pixel of interest and determined parameter values for the signal model for the pixel of interest. A defect, which may be smaller than the pixel of interest can then be detected based on the residual for the pixel of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the contactless determining of the speed of a fluid flow and the concentration of at least one analyte therein, wherein a) the flow speed is measured by means of laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) using tracer particles which pass through an interference fringe pattern in the intersection region of two coherent monochromatic light beams and thereby generate a scattered light signal; and b) the concentration of the at least one analyte is measured by means of Raman spectroscopy, wherein a monochromatic light beam is radiated in and the Raman spectrum of the light inelastically scattered on the analyte molecules in the flow is recorded; wherein c) a single light source is used for both the LDA and the Raman spectroscopy, such that both measurements are carried out in the intersection region of two two coherent light beams coming from the light source, wherein the speed is measured by photons elastically scattered onto the tracer particles, and the concentration is measured by p

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for using optical interferometry in the context of material modification processes such as surgical laser or welding applications. An imaging optical source that produces imaging light. A feedback controller controls at least one processing parameter of the material modification process based on an interferometry output generated using the imaging light. A method of processing interferograms is provided based on homodyne filtering. A method of generating a record of a material modification process using an interferometry output is provided.

Abstract: An optical measurement device and method are disclosed. A position measurement device is provided with a device for measuring inclinations of an optical detection module (5) and a substrate carrier (6) which are measured during movement of the optical detection unit and the substrate carrier. Calculation and correction can be made according to the inclination data and with reference to displacements of the optical detection module (5) and the substrate carrier (6) and coordinates of their positions. During measurement for a certain point on the substrate, measured data related to the point is corrected by using the device and the method, which improves measurement precision, thus eliminating a large error caused in measurement for a large-sized substrate (9).

Abstract: A ring laser gyroscope is provided. A light source is configured to generate light of a first wavelength. A plurality primary cavity mirrors are configured to route light of a second wavelength around a primary cavity to a readout device. One primary cavity mirror of the plurality of primary cavity mirrors includes a gain medium. The pumping mirror and the one primary cavity mirror including the gain medium is positioned and configured to reflect the light of the first wavelength back and forth in a pumping cavity through the gain medium, wherein the light of the first wavelength stimulates the gain medium to generate the light of the second wavelength that are reflected around the primary cavity to the readout device.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to laser systems and laser pulse characterization methods and respective systems. An embodiment of the method comprises generating two collinear replicas of the pulse being characterized; applying two different predetermined spectral phases to each replica, so as to simultaneously scan delay and dispersion; applying a nonlinear process to the pulse to be characterized; measuring the resulting signal from the application of the predetermined spectral phases and nonlinear process; applying a numerical iterative algorithm to the measured signal to retrieve the spectral phase of the pulse to be characterized; such process being done as a scanning procedure or in parallel utilizing a single laser shot.