Abstract: A position-measuring device includes a measuring standard, a scanning unit, and a rotary bearing by which the measuring standard or the scanning unit is rotationally mounted. The measuring standard and the scanning unit are rotatable in relation to each other. The scanning unit generates output signals, on the basis of which a rotary angle associated with the relative motion of the measuring standard and the scanning unit is able to be determined. A monitoring device monitors the rotary bearing for the occurrence of bearing faults and is adapted to detect and analyze at least one measured variable for a plurality of different relative positions of the measuring standard in relation to the scanning unit, in order to determine deviations from a setpoint behavior of the measured variables on the basis of the measured variable detected for a plurality of relative positions.

Abstract: A targeting system for a spectrophotometer includes a plurality of fiber channels, including at least one measurement channel and at least one illumination channel. A slit assembly includes a translucent layer disposed adjacent the plurality of fiber channels, and reflective portion disposed adjacent the translucent layer. Each fiber channel includes a first end, the first end offset from the reflective portion of the slit assembly to allow light transfer from one fiber channel to an adjacent fiber channel. A light source is in optical communication with the at least one illumination channel. A sample plane is in optical communication with a second end of the measurement channel. The system is configured such that light is transmitted from the light source, through the at least one illumination channel, reflected off the slit assembly, transmitted through the measurement channel, and onto the sample plane.

Abstract: Optical detection systems configured to collect and detect light emitted by a sample are provided. Aspects of the systems include a core region selective side scatter (SSC) collection module configured to allow for the selective detection SSC wavelength light from a core region of collected light. Also provided are methods of using the systems.

Abstract: A gas analyzer and related methods are for measuring a concentration of a component of a gas mixture. The gas analyzer includes a gas cell defining an overall volume for housing the gas mixture, a gas inlet and a gas outlet, a light source that emits a light beam into the gas cell, and a light detector that detects a portion of the light of the light beam that has propagated through the gas mixture, the concentration of the component of the gas mixture being determined based on the portion of the light beam detected by the light detector. The gas cell defines an optical volume for travel of the light beam within the gas cell, and the optical volume comprises at least a portion of the overall volume and is configured to suppress turbulent flow of the gas mixture within the optical volume to reduce optical noise generated by the gas mixture.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of authenticating the provenance of an article marked with a removable transparent polymer film comprising measuring the thickness of the removable transparent film while still located on the article or of a layer within the film while still located on the article by white light interferometry. Alternatively, or in addition, the method comprises measuring the birefringence of the removable transparent polymer film while still located on the article or of a layer within the film while still located on the article.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include methods and systems for assessing alignment of a light source with a flow stream. Methods according to certain embodiments include detecting first and second light signals along a vertical axis of the a light irradiated flow stream and calculating a differential signal amplitude between the first light signal and second light signal to assess the alignment of the light source with the flow stream. Systems for practicing the subject methods are also described.

Abstract: A device for analyzing and/or generating a polarization state of a measurement point of a target object includes a polarizer suitable for selecting, in an incident light wave, a light beam which is linearly polarized in a predefined direction; a first birefringent element suitable for having the light beam pass therethrough; a second birefringent element identical to the first element and suitable for having the light beam pass therethrough, the light beam then being directly or indirectly directed toward the object in order to be reflected in the form of a reflected beam. The device includes an optical assembly having one or more optical elements located in an optical path between the first element and the second element, and the optical assembly includes an odd number of mirrors, or, an odd number of half-wave plates, or, an odd number of a mix of mirrors and half-wave plates.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical in-situ gas analysis includes: a housing; a measuring lance a first end connected to the housing and a second end projecting into the gas to be measured; a light transmitter that is arranged in the housing and whose light is conducted into the measuring lance and is reflected by a reflector arranged at the second end onto a light receiver, and the optical path defines an optical measurement path within the measuring lance; and, an evaluation device for evaluating received light signals of the light receiver. In order to be able to reduce the consumption of test gas, the measuring lance has an outer tube, with the outer tube having openings for the gas to be measured. The openings can be closed by at least one seal for the test phase, with the seal searingly closing the openings by the enlargement of its volume.

Abstract: A method for imaging one dimension nanomaterials is provided. Firstly, one dimension nanomaterials sample, an optical microscope with a liquid immersion objective and a liquid are provided. Secondly, the one dimensional nanomaterials sample is immersed in the liquid. Thirdly, the one dimensional nanomaterials sample is illuminated by an incident beam to generate resonance Rayleigh scattering. Forthly, the liquid immersion objective is immersed into the liquid to get a resonance Rayleigh scattering (RRS) image of the one dimensional nanomaterials sample. Fifthly, spectra of the one dimensional nanomaterials sample are measured to obtain chirality of the one dimensional nanomaterials sample.

Abstract: A phase-resolved heterodyne shearing interferometer has been developed for high-rate, whole field observations of transient surface motion. The sensor utilizes polarization multiplexing and multiple carrier frequencies to separate each segment of a shearing Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Post-processing routines have been developed to recombine the segments by extracting the scattered object phase from Doppler shifted intermediate carrier frequencies, providing quantitative relative phase changes and information to create variable shear, phase resolved shearographic fringe patterns without temporal or spatial phase shifting.

Abstract: A method for correcting frequency offset in a dual comb spectroscopy system is provided. The method includes causing a first laser (L1) generator to transmit L1 pulses at a repetition rate of a first frequency and causing a second laser (L2) generator to transmit L2 pulses at a repetition rate of a second frequency. The method also includes interrogating a reference material using a combination of the L1 pulses and the L2 pulses and capturing reference cell pulses. The method further includes interrogating a material of interest using the L1 pulses and capturing material of interest pulses. The method includes determining a frequency jitter based on the captured reference cell pulses and the combination of the captured material of interest pulses and the L2 pulses.

Abstract: An inner surface shape measurement device for measuring a shape of an inner surface of a test target, and includes a light source, an optical system which converts light emitted by the light source into a disc-shaped light beam to cause the light beam to be emitted toward an inner surface of the test target, a photography unit which captures an image of a state in which the light beam is projected on the inner surface of the test target, and a wiring which supplies power for driving the light source. The optical system, the light source and the photography unit are disposed in this order along a same axis line, and the wiring extends from the light source toward the photography unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for spectrometer dark correction are described which achieve more stable baselines, especially towards the edges where intensity correction magnifies any non-zero results of dark subtraction, and changes in dark current due to changes in temperature of the camera window frame are typically more pronounced. The resulting induced curvature of the baseline makes quantitation difficult in these regions. Use of the invention may provide metrics for the identification of system failure states such as loss of camera vacuum seal, drift in the temperature stabilization, and light leaks. In system aspects of the invention, a processor receives signals from a light detector in the spectrometer and executes software programs to calculate spectral responses, sum or average results, and perform other operations necessary to carry out the disclosed methods. In most preferred embodiments, the light signals received from a sample are used for Raman analysis.

Abstract: A device for the interferometric measuring of an object, including a light source to generate an emitted beam, a beam splitting device for splitting the emitted beam into a measuring beam and at least first and second reference beams, an optic interference device, and first and second detectors, with the interference device and the first detector being embodied cooperating such that the measuring beam, at least partially reflected by the object, and the first reference beam are interfered on at least one detector area of the first detector. The interference device and the second detector are embodied cooperating such that the measuring beam, at least partially scattered by the object, and the second reference beam are interfered on at least one detector area of the second detector. A method is also provided for the interferometric measuring of an object.

Abstract: A reflection property measuring device comprising illumination light and reflected light polarizing plates held by a holder in a mutually superposed state in a thickness direction thereof, wherein the holder has a fittingly-holding portion for setting a held posture, and each of the polarizing plates has a fitting portion fittable to the fittingly-holding portion. The fitting portions of the polarizing plates are provided at positions allowing the polarizing plates to be held by the holder in respective postures where polarizing directions thereof intersect orthogonally. A manufacturing method is disclosed for polarizing plates used in the device, wherein the illumination light and reflected light polarizing plates are manufactured in such a manner as to be punched out from the same polarizing plate material.

Abstract: An optical system design using Morse Taper mounted optical components for improving alignment performance, and more specifically a spectrometer design wherein the components include Morse Taper male tapers and the spectrometer bench include Morse Taper female openings that eases alignment and improves alignment stability, both physical and temperature related, of optical components while simplifying manufacture and maintaining a compact footprint is disclosed.

Abstract: An optical wavelength detecting device, the device including: a polarizer configured to transform an incident light into a polarized light; a detecting element configured to receive the polarized light and form a temperature difference or a potential difference between two points of the detecting element, wherein the detecting element includes a carbon nanotube structure including a plurality of carbon nanotubes oriented along the same direction, and angles between a polarizing direction of the polarized light and an oriented direction of the plurality of carbon nanotubes is adjustable; a measuring device electrically connected to the detecting element and configured to measure the temperature difference or the potential difference; a data processor electrically connected to the measuring device and configured to obtain the optical wavelength by calculating and analyzing the temperature difference or the potential difference.

Abstract: Methods and systems for nanopillar sensors are described. Nanopillars can be defined on a substrate, and metal deposited on the nanopillars. A thermal treatment can reflow the metal on the nanopillars forming metallic bulbs on the top end of the nanopillars. These structures can have enhanced optical detection when functionalized with biological agents, or can detect gases, particles and liquids through interaction with the metal layer on the nanopillars.

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 the projecting direction of the pillar.

Abstract: A pill inspection apparatus of the present invention includes: an illumination portion 30 for irradiating light to a medical envelope 20 in which at least a translucent pill 22 is enclosed; an imaging portion 11 for acquiring a transmission image of the irradiated medical envelope 20; and an image processing portion 12 for detecting, as the translucent pill 22, a pill having a brightness value of its outer periphery lower than that of its center using the transmission image, the illumination portion 30 includes a light emitting portion 31, and a light-collecting portion 33 for collecting light is provided between the light emitting portion 31 and the medical envelope 20. By obtaining a uniform outline of the translucent pill 22 irrespective of a shooting position, it is possible to inspect the translucent pill 22 irrespective of a permeation rate.