Abstract: An elemental analysis apparatus 101 includes a treatment vessel 108 of which at least a part is optically transparent, a first electrode 104 covered by insulator 103, a second electrode 102, a bubble-generating part which generates a bubble 106, a gas-supplying apparatus 105 which supplies gas to the bubble-generating part in an amount necessary for generating the bubble 106, a power supply 101 which applies voltage between the first electrode 104 and the second electrode 102, and an optical detection device 110 which determines an emission spectrum of plasma that is generated by application of the voltage, and the apparatus conducts qualitatively or quantitatively analysis of a component contained in the liquid 109 based on the emission spectrum determined by the optical detection device 110.

Abstract: A force sensor according to embodiments includes a light-emitting unit, a pair of first light detectors, a reflector, and a first frame. The light-emitting unit emits diffuse light. The first light detectors are arranged in a first direction with the light-emitting unit interposed therebetween. The reflector is arranged to face the light-emitting unit on an optical axis of the light-emitting unit and reflects the diffuse light emitted from the light-emitting unit toward the first light detectors. The first frame is deformed in the first direction so that a reflection range of the diffuse light reflected by the reflector is displaced in the first direction.

Abstract: A double-grating surface-enhanced Raman spectrometer. The spectrometer includes a substrate; a plurality of nanofingers carried by the substrate, the nanofingers arranged to define a first optical grating; a light source oriented to project a beam of light toward the first optical grating; a second optical grating oriented to receive a beam of light scattered from the first optical grating; and a detector oriented to receive a beam of light scattered from the second optical grating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical sensing chip, which has various applications and may be used repetitively. The optical sensing chip can qualitatively identify different types of molecules and quantitatively analyze small molecules in minute amounts. Regarding a conventional optical sensing chip, an additional sample of known concentration is required as a reference in signal comparison for quantitative determination. In the disclosure, it is unnecessary to add the additional sample of known concentration, but the optical sensing chip itself provides a fixed optical signal that is not varied along with environmental changes to serve as a reference for quantitative determination. In addition, the optical sensing chip also possesses the ability to concentrate or filter sample in real-time.

Abstract: A coupled-cavity ring-down spectrometer utilizes an optical resonator to increase the reflectivity of ring-down cavity mirrors by adding external optical cavities that recycle light to the main cavity. These input and output cavities are made up of at least one coupling mirror and at least one movable recycling mirror. The movable recycling mirrors are coupled to at least one piezoelectric transducer, which generates movement of the recycling mirrors. The coupled-cavity ring-down configuration achieves higher spectrometer finesse, sensitivity and dynamic range.

Abstract: This light source device includes one light emission unit from which light is emitted, plural light source units, a photo coupler, and a control unit. The plural light source units output outgoing lights with mutually differing wavelengths. The photo coupler connects the light emission unit and plural light source units. The control unit controls the plural light source units via a driver. Each of the plural light source units includes a light emitting element and a wavelength conversion unit. The wavelength conversion unit converts the wavelength of light output from the light emitting element, thus generating the outgoing light.

Abstract: A method is provided for characterizing a mask having a structure, comprising the steps of: illuminating said mask under at least one illumination angle with monochromatic illuminating radiation, so as to produce a diffraction pattern of said structure that includes at least two maxima of adjacent diffraction orders, capturing said diffraction pattern, determining the intensities of the maxima of the adjacent diffraction orders, and determining an intensity quotient of the intensities. A mask inspection microscope for characterizing a mask in conjunction with the performance of the inventive method is also provided.

Abstract: A surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensor, system and method employ nanorods and independent nanoparticles that interact. The sensor includes at least two spaced apart nanorods attached at first ends to a substrate and an independent nanoparticle. Second ends of the nanorods are movable into close proximity to one another and include a Raman active surface. The nanoparticle has a functionalized surface that includes a Raman signal generator. An interaction between the nanoparticle and the nanorod second ends in close proximity is detectable. The system includes the SERS sensor, an illumination source and a Raman signal detector. The method includes illuminating the interaction of the nanoparticle and the nanorods with an analyte, and detecting an effect on a Raman signal caused by the analyte.

Abstract: This invention is within the technical field of distinguishing between natural diamond and synthetic CVD and HPHT diamonds, involves an examination technique using the Raman spectra. Procedurally, a highly sensitive Raman spectrometer (S/N>10,000) is used to scan and examine the diamond sample. The spectrometer is fitted with a tailor-made probe that has a large facula and surface area. Specially developed software is then used to perform an intensity correction and a background elimination to obtain a specific Raman spectral range (250-2800 cm?1) with the corrected intensity and a smooth baseline. Next, the Raman peak intensity of 2030 cm?1 (the post-correction and -standardization characteristic peak) is used as a basis to distinguish between natural diamond and synthetic CVD and HPHT diamonds. This method has the advantages of being non-destructive, simple, fast, and practical identification for diamonds.

Abstract: Methods and/or systems are disclosed herein for use in imaging an object including using interferometry while modifying at least one characteristic of the object such as the spatial distribution of the refractive index of the object. The interferometry imaging data may be processed with one or more image processing algorithms that take into account the modification, or change, in the spatial distribution of the refractive index of the object.

Abstract: A method of image processing. A band-averaged spectral radiance is measured using at least one optical filter upon scanning a plurality of original radiances. The measured band-averaged spectral radiance includes a measured in-band-averaged spectral radiance and a measured band-gap-averaged spectral radiance. A multispectral radiance vector is generated from the measured band-averaged spectral radiance. The multispectral radiance vector and an out-of-band correction transform matrix corresponding to the at least one optical filter are matrix-multiplied to generate a band-averaged spectral radiances image vector representing a plurality of recovered band-averaged spectral radiances. The plurality of recovered band-averaged spectral radiances is analyzed for a presence of a target.

Abstract: A spectrometer comprises a plurality of isolated optical channels comprising a plurality of isolated optical paths. The isolated optical paths decrease cross-talk among the optical paths and allow the spectrometer to have a decreased length with increased resolution. In many embodiments, the isolated optical paths comprise isolated parallel optical paths that allow the length of the device to be decreased substantially. In many embodiments, each isolated optical path extends from a filter of a filter array, through a lens of a lens array, through a channel of a support array, to a region of a sensor array. Each region of the sensor array comprises a plurality of sensor elements in which a location of the sensor element corresponds to the wavelength of light received based on an angle of light received at the location, the focal length of the lens and the central wavelength of the filter.

Abstract: A hyperspectral imaging system, a monolithic Offner spectrometer, and two methods for manufacturing the monolithic Offner spectrometer are described herein. In one embodiment, the monolithic Offner spectrometer comprises a transmissive material which has: (1) an entrance surface which has an opaque material applied thereto, where the opaque material has a portion removed therefrom which forms a slit; (2) a first surface which has a first reflective coating applied thereto to form a first mirror; (3) a second surface which has a second reflective coating applied thereto to form a diffraction grating; (4) a third surface which has a third reflective coating applied thereto to form a second mirror; and (5) an exit surface.

Abstract: A spectrometer comprises a plurality of isolated optical channels comprising a plurality of isolated optical paths. The isolated optical paths decrease cross-talk among the optical paths and allow the spectrometer to have a decreased length with increased resolution. In many embodiments, the isolated optical paths comprise isolated parallel optical paths that allow the length of the device to be decreased substantially. In many embodiments, each isolated optical path extends from a filter of a filter array, through a lens of a lens array, through a channel of a support array, to a region of a sensor array. Each region of the sensor array comprises a plurality of sensor elements in which a location of the sensor element corresponds to the wavelength of light received based on an angle of light received at the location, the focal length of the lens and the central wavelength of the filter.

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 Raman spectrometer includes a light source (12), a sensor element (14) and a detector (10), where the sensor element (14) includes an active surface (24), which active surface (24) is coated with a layer (26) of inert material to be placed in contact with the sample (4). A sensor element (14) includes an active surface (24) which is coated with a layer (26) of inert material. A method for obtaining a Raman spectrum using such a sensor element (14) includes the following steps: a) providing a sensor element (14), comprising an active surface (24) which is coated with a layer (26) of inert material and placing the layer (26) of inert material in contact with a sample to be analysed; b) illuminating the sensor element (14) with monochromatic light; and c) detecting surface enhanced Raman scattering by the sensor element (14).

Abstract: An exemplary detector includes a source of radiation. A detection chamber is configured to at least temporarily contain a fluid. At least some of the radiation ionizes at least some of the fluid. At least some of the radiation produces light in the detection chamber. An ionization sensor provides an output corresponding to an amount of fluid ionization in the detection chamber. A light sensor provides an output corresponding to an amount of the light detected by the light sensor.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for suppressing speckle and/or diffraction artifacts in coherent structured illumination sensing systems. A coherent radiation pattern forms an interference pattern at an illumination image plane and illuminates an object. Radiation scattered or otherwise emitted by the object is detected to produce a signal, which is integrated in time. Coherent artifact suppression is attained by using a spatial modulator, such as an acousto-optic device, to vary a phase gradient at the illumination image plane during the signal integration time. Various embodiments are provided for purposes including without limitation: preserving the depth of field of the coherent illumination; using the same acousto-optic device for pattern generation and coherent artifact suppression; electronically controlling the effective spatial coherence of the illumination system; and reducing errors due to coherent artifacts in a laser-based three dimensional imaging system.

Abstract: A fiber Bragg grating cross-wire sensor may be used to independently determine strain and temperature variation. An example fiber Bragg grating cross-wire sensor comprises a first fiber Bragg grating (FBG) that reflects a first percentage, R1, of light of a first wavelength, ?1, and a second FBG that reflects a second percentage, R2, of light of a second wavelength, ?2. The second FBG is positioned orthogonal to the first FBG, and ?1 is substantially equal to ?2, but R1 is different from R2. As the FBG cross-wire sensor experiences a strain and/or a temperature variation, the wavelengths of light reflected by the first FBG and the second FBG will shift from the first and second wavelength, ?1 and ?2, to first and second shifted wavelengths, ?A and ?T, respectively. Based on R1, R2, ?1, ?A, and ?T, the strain and/or the temperature variation may be independently determined.

Abstract: Split Integration Mode (SIM) acquisition schemes are presented that enable optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging at multiple rates. SIM enables a system and method of operation having a first mode and a second mode, wherein the fundamental acquisition rate of the detector is the same in the two modes, but wherein the generated signals in the second mode are digitally combined prior to signal processing to create a data set with an effective acquisition rate less than the fundamental acquisition rate.