Abstract: An optical microscope supports a housing having a closed chamber in which a particle to be pyrolyzed is disposed and is exposable to a targeting laser beam for precisely positioning the particle and a power laser beam for heating and pyrolyzing the selected particle. The pyrolysis chamber housing is supported on a heater disposed on the microscope stage for movement into the focal plane of the objective lens and into the beam path of the targeting and power lasers. The lasers are mounted together and, in combination with multiple reflecting mirrors, direct their beams along a common beam path. The lasers are mounted on an adjustable support base for adjusting the position of the beam path along three mutually perpendicular axes.

Abstract: A heating and targeting laser beam and microscope apparatus optically senses, heats to generate a effluent fluid and chemically analyzes the thermal extract fluid or fluid pyrolyzates from a microscopic particle within a heterogeneous composite sample. A transparent duct-like chamber having a bottom opening is attached to a microscope. A contact surface of the sample is raised to abut against the bottom opening, which encloses the space around the particle and also brings the particle into the common focal plane of the microscope and the converging laser beam(s). This single step avoids the complex separate focusing and sealing steps required by present day techniques.

Abstract: This invention provides an illuminator adapted to be coupled to a microscope to provide radiation in the ultraviolet region which comprises: (a) a housing having an internal passage way, in optical communication with two windows defined by said housing, said housing being adapted to couple to a microscope body with said windows aligned with the optical axis of the microscope, (b) a mirror located within and extending substantially completely across said internal passageway and adapted to reflect ultraviolet radiation at a first wavelength and transmit radiation at a longer wavelength than said first wavelength, said mirror being centered about said optical axis of the microscope at an angle of about forty-five degrees, (c) a fiber optic cable having a first end coupled with said housing and a second end adapted to receive ultraviolet radiation, said fiber optic cable adapted to introduce ultraviolet radiation into said internal passageway for downward deflection by said mirror along said optical axis of the m

Abstract: A method for characterizing a kerogen by analyzing the change with time of the fluorescence spectrum obtained by irradiating said kerogen with ultraviolet radiation is disclosed. In such method, the fluorescent radiation is separated into a spectrum of individual wavelengths and the change in the intensity of radiation at such individual wavelengths, with time, is measured. This invention also provides a system for carrying out the method of this invention.