Abstract: A device for thermal treatment of samples includes: a base unit with a receiving region for a sample carrier; a temperature control block arranged in the receiving region; a lid; a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the temperature control block; a control unit for heating and cooling the temperature control block; and a reference element for in situ calibrating, validating and/or adjusting of the temperature sensor, which reference element is comprised of a material having at least one phase change at at least one predetermined phase change temperature in a temperature range suitable for calibrating the temperature sensor, during which phase change the material remains in the solid state.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for stabilization of laser output beam characteristics by automatically adjusting the angular and the lateral positions of the output beam. A component of the output beam is detected at a far field location and also at a near field location along an optical path of the component. Both the angular and the lateral positions of the output beam are determined, as well as characteristics of the output beam, after the component is detected at both the near and the far field locations. Both the angular position and the lateral position of the output beam are automatically adjusted to optimize the output beam. The adjustment of both the angular position and the lateral position are made possible by using a beam steering device preferably including two mirrors.