Abstract: A flow cell (2) includes a plate-shaped body 21 that is almost rectangular in a plan view, an introduction portion (22) that is made of a concave portion formed in the upper surface of the body (21), a channel (23) that is formed inside the body (21) and has one end connected to the lower end of the introduction portion (22), and a delivery portion (24) that is made of a concave portion formed in the body (21) and has the lower end connected to the other end of the channel (23). The introduction portion (22) is formed to cause the meniscus of a liquid introduced from an opening to apply, to the liquid, a positive pressure or a negative pressure whose absolute value is smaller than that of a negative pressure applied to the liquid introduced into the channel (23) by the meniscus of the liquid. The channel (23) is formed to cause the meniscus of the liquid introduced into the channel (23) to apply a negative pressure to the liquid.

Abstract: A substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectography includes a support including an upper surface; a multilayer deposited on the upper surface, with the multilayer including at least two metal layers separated from each other by an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer being selectively etchable with respect to the metal layers, the multilayer being passed through by at least one trench delimited by ends of each one of the layers of the multilayer, each end of each intermediate layer being set back with respect to the end of each metal layer adjacent to the intermediate layer in such a way that the ends of two successive metal layers form metal pins separated by a cavity; a reflective optical system arranged in each trench, with the reflective optical system being arranged to direct inside the cavities an incident light arriving according to an angle with respect to the upper surface of the support.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally directed to a strain sensor, system and method of fabrication and use that includes an optical fiber, an optical signal generator that transmits an optical signal through the optical fiber, at least two photonic crystal slabs within the optical fiber separated by a first segment of optical fiber, a photo-detector that detects a reflected optical signal from the at least two photonic crystal slabs, and a processor that computes a mechanical strain over the first segment of optical fiber based on the reflected optical signal detected by the photo-detector.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for multiple wavelength Raman interrogation laser generation and Raman spectra acquisition. An intracavity laser tuning subsystem is integrated into the laser cavity. The tuning subsystem allows switching between at least two laser output frequencies in a manner effective for good identification and separation of Raman spectra from non-Raman spectra, including auto-fluorescence from the sample and background. The tuning subsystem can be implemented in different ways in the cavity. It does not require material alteration of the line-narrowing components. Also, processing of acquired raw signal from the multiple wavelength interrogation can further assist effective Raman spectra identification and separation.

Abstract: A sensor and methods of making a sensor are disclosed. The sensor may include a substrate, an optical source, an optical detector, a plurality of optical cavities in the substrate or in a layer structure over the substrate, where the plurality of optical cavities may be arranged in an optical path between the optical source and the optical detector, and a processing circuit coupled to the optical detector and configured to receive a signal representing an optical signal received by the optical detector.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a reference spectrum includes a parameter adjuster configured to adjust a parameter of a spectroscope so that an intensity of a reflection spectrum of a sample has a value in a range, a reference material spectrum measurer configured to adjust reflectance of a reference material so an intensity of a reflection spectrum of the reference material is not saturated, and measure the reflection spectrum of the reference material, using the spectroscope having the adjusted parameter, a first reference spectrum calculator configured to, in response to the adjusted reflectance of the reference material not being one hundred percent, calculate a first reference spectrum based on the measured reflection spectrum of the reference material, and a second reference spectrum measurer configured to measure a second reference spectrum of the reference material, using the spectroscope having the adjusted parameter, when a light source of the spectroscope is turned off.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving aerosol particle characterization and detection accuracy in clean room applications that includes an optical particle sizer that receives a particle containing aerosol sample at a higher flow rate which is operatively coupled to an inertial aerosol concentrator for concentrating particles received from the optical particle sizer and delivering a lower flow rate, particle enriched output. The system further includes an optical sensor for sensing of intrinsic particle fluorescence of the lower, particle-enriched flow, since intrinsic fluorescence is a useful indicator of biological particles and biological particle viability, including bacterial particles. The system as a whole provides a measure derived from a single inlet flow both of total particles and of viable microbial particles based on their spectroscopic properties.

Abstract: A SERS element comprises a substrate; a fine structure part formed on a front face of the substrate and having a plurality of pillars; and a conductor layer formed on the fine structure part and constituting an optical function part for generating surface-enhanced Raman scattering. The conductor layer has a base part formed along the front face of the substrate and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the base part at respective positions corresponding to the pillars. The base part and the protrusions form a plurality of gaps in the conductor layer, each of the gaps having an interstice gradually decreasing in a direction perpendicular to the projecting direction of the pillar.

Abstract: An analysis system (e.g., LIBS) includes a laser source generating a laser beam, a movable optic configured to move said laser beam to multiple locations on a sample, and a spectrometer responsive to photons emitted by the sample at those locations and having an output. A controller is responsive to a trigger signal and is configured in a moving spot cycle to adjust the moveable optic, activate the laser source sequentially generating photons at multiple locations on the sample, and process the spectrometer output at each location.

Abstract: An optical measuring probe for measuring inner and/or outer diameters of objects, uses a first optical element for focusing or collimating an optical beam onto a surface of an object. A second optical element for splitting the optical beam into a first measuring beam and a second measuring beam is provided in the optical measuring probe in such a way that the second measuring beam is guided out of the measuring probe in a direction opposite the direction of the first measuring beam and that the first measuring beam forms a first scan point and the second measuring beam forms a second scan point. Also described is a corresponding method for measuring diameters using the optical measuring probe. The optical measuring probe and the associated method make it possible to optically measure inner and outer diameters of measuring probes objects in a simple manner.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a photon emitter configured to emit photons onto a surface of an article, a photon detector array configured to receive photons from surface features of the article; and a processing means configured for processing photon-detector-array signals corresponding to photons scattered from the surface features and photons fluoresced from the surface features, wherein the processing means is further configured for classifying the surface features of the article.

Abstract: A substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectography includes a support including an upper surface; a supporting structure including at least one microstructured pattern, the microstructured pattern including a top and sidewalls, with the sidewalls extending according to a direction secant to the direction of the upper surface; a multilayer arranged on the sidewalls of the microstructured pattern, with the multilayer including at least two pillar layers, separated from each other by an intermediate layer, each intermediate layer having an end set back with respect to an end of each adjacent pillar layer in such a way that the ends of two successive pillar layers form pins separated by a cavity, with the ends of the pillar layers being covered by a metal layer.

Abstract: A system and method for the monitoring of carbon dioxide (CO2) for chemical contaminants. The carbon dioxide monitoring system includes a contaminant sensor that is configured to detect trace amounts of contaminants in CO2 that is pumped through it in real time. The contaminant sensor includes an interferometer configured to track the amount of contaminants.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a multi-channel aerosol scattering absorption measuring instrument, comprising a light path device, a detection device and a gas path device. The light path device supplies three different wavelengths of laser entering the detection device in sequence; the detection device is provided with photoelectric detectors at multiple angles for measurement, so as to reduce the measurement error of aerosol scattering coefficient; the gas path device comprises a sample loading unit, a calibration unit and a sample discharging unit; and a light source from the light path device and a gas flow from the gas path device enter the photoacoustic cavity of the detection device respectively and are detected by a control unit.

Abstract: Waveguide includes fork with first and second bifurcated ends coupled to loop section and separated by angle determined based on velocities of portions of quantum mechanical wavefunction of atoms traveling above waveguide. Waveguide propagates blue-detuned laser having first evanescent field that repels atoms away from waveguide and red-detuned laser having second evanescent field that attracts atoms toward waveguide, together creating potential minimum/well. Laser cooling atoms, causing atoms positioned in potential minimum/well to move toward first fork section following potential minimum/well. Atomic state initialization section initializes atomic states of atoms to known ground-state configuration.

Abstract: Measurement targets for use on substrates, and overlay targets are presented. The targets include an array of first regions alternating with second regions, wherein the first regions include structures oriented in a first direction and the second regions include structures oriented in a direction different from the first direction. The effective refractive index of the two sets of regions are thereby different when experienced by a polarized beam, which will act as a TM-polarized beam when reflected from the first set of regions, but as a TE-polarized beam when reflected from the second set of regions.

Abstract: Spectral ellipsometry measurement systems are provided including a polarizer that rotates at a first angle and adjusts a polarizing direction of incident light of a measurement sample; a compensator that rotates at a second angle, different from the first angle, and adjusts a phase difference of the incident light; an analyzer that rotates at a third angle and adjusts a polarizing direction of light reflected on the measurement sample; a detector that detects a spectral image from the reflected light; a controller that controls one of the polarizer, the compensator, and the analyzer according to polarizer-compensator-analyzer (PCA) angle sets including the first to third angles; and a processor that receives, from the detector, a first spectral image corresponding to a first PCA angle set and a first wavelength and a second spectral image corresponding to a second PCA angle set and a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, and generates a polarizer-compensator-analyzer rotating (PCAR) spectral

Abstract: A sensor for monitoring a medium has an electromagnetic radiation source, mirrors, and a detector for electromagnetic radiation arranged inside a cup-shaped housing part. The cup-shaped part has flat, angularly arranged wall areas defining a cavity in which, outside of the housing, the medium is contained. The flat wall areas are transparent for electromagnetic radiation and arranged in the beam path from the electromagnetic radiation source to the detector so that the electromagnetic radiation passes through first wall, medium in the cavity, and second wall. The first and second wall areas and the medium form a refracting prism. A cover closes off the cup-shaped part so that electromagnetic radiation source, detector, and mirrors are enclosed in the housing. A data processing system is connected to electromagnetic radiation source and detector so that electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths is refracted in the prism and the resulting spectra are detected and evaluated.

Abstract: An ICP emission spectrometer is schematically configured to include an inductively coupled plasma generation unit, a light condensing unit, a spectroscope, a detector, and a controller. The detector includes a photomultiplier and has a detector controller and an input unit. The photomultiplier has voltage dividing resistors, which make an amplification factor not to become constant immediately due to a change in an application voltage applied to the photomultiplier, but the detector controller controls an idle voltage and an idle voltage application time so that a multiplication factor becomes constant, during a period from when analysis conditions are input to the input unit in advance until a sample containing an analysis-targeted element is introduced into the inductively coupled plasma generation unit.

Abstract: A spectrometry apparatus includes a wavelength variable interference filter emitting light of various predetermined wavelengths; a roll shutter imaging element having pixels accumulating electric charges when exposed to light, and forming one frame by photodetection for each pixel block including pixels with a predetermined time delay for each pixel block, in which the imaging element accumulates electric charges in a photodetection period, and outputs a detection signal in response to the accumulated electric charges in a non-photodetection period; and a spectroscopic controller controlling the wavelength change driving of the emitted light of the wavelength variable interference filter. For the one frame, the spectroscopic controller starts the wavelength change driving at an end timing of the photodetection period of a final pixel block for which the photodetection process is performed at the end.