Abstract: A system includes a detector and a computing device communicatively coupled to the detector. The detector detects spatial or temporal spectral features of a light beam after transmission of the light beam through a turbulent or aberrated medium and generate a measurement signal indicative of the spectral feature. The computing device receives the measurement signal and a comparative signal indicative of a spectral feature of the light beam prior to or after transmission of the light beam through the medium. The computing device compares the measurement signal and the comparative signal and determines, based on the comparison of the measurement signal and the comparative signal, one or more values related to variations in refractive indices of the medium.

Abstract: A system includes a detector and a computing device communicatively coupled to the detector. The detector detects spatial or temporal spectral features of a light beam after transmission of the light beam through a turbulent or aberrated medium and generate a measurement signal indicative of the spectral feature. The computing device receives the measurement signal and a comparative signal indicative of a spectral feature of the light beam prior to or after transmission of the light beam through the medium. The computing device compares the measurement signal and the comparative signal and determines, based on the comparison of the measurement signal and the comparative signal, one or more values related to variations in refractive indices of the medium.

Abstract: A cavity thermal detector assembly is presented that allows both tunable narrowband and broadband operation. This allows for high light efficiency, low thermal time constant, and flexibility in designing the optical path. The thermal detector/filter layers are part of the top mirror or mirrors of a Gires-Tournois-type optical cavity and provide absorption and reflection that can be adjusted to the desired width and position of the detected band. Tuning, if desired, can be achieved by applying micromechanical methods. Broadband operation may be achieved by bringing the sensor close to the bottom mirror. In this mode, the sensor or its supports may or may not touch over a small area.

Abstract: A cavity thermal detector assembly is presented that allows both tunable narrowband and broadband operation. This allows for high light efficiency, low thermal time constant, and flexibility in designing the optical path. The thermal detector/filter layers are part of the top mirror or mirrors of a Gires-Tournois-type optical cavity and provide absorption and reflection that can be adjusted to the desired width and position of the detected band. Tuning, if desired, can be achieved by applying micromechanical methods. Broadband operation may be achieved by bringing the sensor close to the bottom mirror. In this mode, the sensor or its supports may or may not touch over a small area.

Abstract: A system and method using an electronic light detector array, e.g., a CCD or a CMOS-based detector array, is used to acquire a visual image of a biological sample that includes biological material associated with a biological material holding structure (e.g., a DNA spot array on a DNA chip, protein bands in a 2-D gel, etc.). For example, fluorescence from a biological sample may be detected.