Abstract: A system and method for the detection and identification of explosives and explosive residues using a combination of SWIR, Raman, and LIBS spectroscopy techniques, including imaging. A region of interest may be surveyed to identify a target area, wherein the target area comprises at least one unknown material. This surveying may be accomplished using visible imagery or SWIR imagery. The target area may be interrogated using Raman spectroscopy and LIBS spectroscopy to identify the unknown material. SWIR techniques may also be used to interrogate the target area. Fusion algorithms may also be applied to visible images, SWIR data sets, Raman data sets, and/or LIBS data sets.

Abstract: A system and method for performing multispectral color addition imaging. An optical image is obtained for a sample scene comprising one or more target materials. Spectroscopic data is obtained for one or more target materials. A first and second waveband of interest are obtained for one or more target materials. A ratio of the first and second wavebands of interest is obtained and compared to one or more ranges of threshold values. Based on this comparison, a result is displayed wherein this result comprises a pseudo color overlay on said optical image. The pseudo color image may comprise one or more pseudo colors assigned to one or more target materials so as to differentiate and identify the target materials present in the sample scene.

Abstract: A method for assessing the presence of a pathogenic microorganism in a sample. A sample is illuminated to thereby produce a first plurality of interacted photons which may be scattered, emitted, reflected and/or absorbed by the sample. The first plurality of interacted photons are assessed to thereby generate a Raman data set representative of the sample. This Raman data set is analyzed to thereby determine at least one of: the presence of a pathogenic microorganism in said sample and the absence of a pathogenic microorganism in said sample. The Raman data set may comprise at least one of a Raman spectrum and/or a Raman chemical image representative of the sample. The analysis may comprise comparing said Raman data set to at least one reference Raman data set representative of a known sample. This may be achieved using a chemometric technique.

Abstract: A system and method for analyzing a forensic sample. A forensic sample is illuminated nondestructively with light of a first wavelength ?1. A first image of the forensic sample is imaged using light emitted at a second wavelength ?2, the second wavelength filtered by a multi-conjugate tunable filter. A second image of the forensic sample is imaged using the light emitted from the sample at a third wavelength ?3, different from ?2, the third wavelength filtered by a multi-conjugate tunable filter. A calculated image of the forensic image is then created from the first image and the second image. The disclosure also provides for obtaining a processed image by applying a chemometric technique to the calculated image and for identifying the sample as a known forensic material by searching a reference database for a match to either the calculated image or the processed image.

Abstract: System and method for spatially and spectrally parallelized FAST. A sample is illuminated to thereby produce interacted photons. The photons are passed through a filter and received at a two-dimensional end of a FAST device wherein said FAST device comprises a two-dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one-dimensional fiber stack so as to effectively convert a two-dimensional array of optical fibers into a curvilinear field of view, and wherein said two-dimensional array of optical fibers is configured to receive said photons and transfer said photons out of said fiber array spectral translator device and to a spectrograph through said one-dimensional fiber stack wherein said one-dimensional fiber stack comprises at least two columns of fibers spatially offset in parallel at the entrance slit of said spectrograph. The photons are then detected at a detector to thereby obtain a spectroscopic data set representative of the sample.

Abstract: A sample is illuminated to thereby generate a plurality of first interacted photons selected. The first interacted photons are assessed using a visible imaging device to thereby determine an area of interest in the sample. The area of interest is illuminated to thereby generate a plurality of second interacted photons. The second interacted photons are assessed using a spectroscopic device to thereby generate a SWIR data set representative of said area of interest. A database is searched wherein said database comprises a plurality of known SWIR data sets associated with an explosive material. The data sets comprise at least one of: a plurality of SWIR spectra and a plurality of spatially accurate wavelength resolved SWIR images. An explosive material in the area of interest is thereby identified as a result of the search.

Abstract: A method and a portable device for assessing the occurrence of an agent in a sample. A sample is illuminated with photons emanating from a portable device to produce photons reflected, emitted, or absorbed from a set of multiple points in the sample having a defined geometric relationship. The portable device is used to simultaneously illuminate the sample and analyze the photons reflected, emitted, or absorbed from the set of multiple points using spectroscopic methods, including infrared, fluorescence, and UV/visible. The agent assessed may include a hazardous agent, a chemical agent, a biological agent, a microorganism, a bacterium, a protozoan, a virus, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: System and method for assessing the occurrence of an unknown substance in a sample that comprises multiple entities. A reference library is provided comprising a plurality of reference data sets representative of at least one known substance. A first feature of the entities is assessed wherein the first feature is characteristic of the unknown substance. A region of interest is selected wherein the region of interest comprises at least one entity exhibiting the first feature. A spatially accurate wavelength resolved Raman image is obtained wherein each pixel in the image is the Raman spectrum of the sample at the corresponding location. The spatially accurate wavelength resolved image is assessed to thereby identify the unknown substance.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of assessing one or more geometric properties of a particle of a substance using an infrared spectroscopic property of the substance. The method is useful, for example, for assessing particle sizes and size distributions in mixtures containing both particles of the substance and other materials.

Abstract: A system and method to automatically obtain spectra for samples. The method involves a two phase process including a photobleaching phase and a spectral acquisition phase. In the photobleaching phase, a series of spectral data sets of a sample are collected. A relative difference is determined between the background of subsequent spectral data sets is determined and compared to a predetermined threshold value. If threshold difference is less than the relative difference between the background of subsequent spectral data sets, the steps of collecting a series of spectra data sets is automatically repeated. In the spectrum acquisition phase, a series of Raman data sets of the sample are collected until a target SNR is obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and methods for assessing occurrence of a hazardous agent in a sample by performing multimodal spectral analysis of the sample. Methods of employing Raman spectroscopy for entities in a sample which exhibit one or more optical properties characteristic of a hazardous agent are disclosed. Devices and systems suitable for performing such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for a fiberscope. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a chemical imaging fiberscope for imaging and collecting optical spectra from a sample having at least one illumination fiber for transmitting light from a first an a second light source to a distal end of a fiberscope; a dichroic mirror disposed at said distal end of the fiberscope such that light from said first light source passes substantially straight through said mirror and light of a predetermined wavelength from said second light source is substantially reflected by said mirror toward said sample to thereby illuminate said sample; and at least one collection fiber for receiving light from said illuminated sample and transmitting the received light to an optical device.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a multimode imaging apparatus for simultaneously obtaining multiple wavelength-discriminative spectral images of a sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and methods for assessing occurrence of a hazardous agent in a sample by performing multimodal spectral analysis of the sample. Methods of employing Raman spectroscopy for entities in a sample which exhibit one or more optical properties characteristic of a hazardous agent are disclosed. Devices and systems suitable for performing such methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system method for depositing a sample of a threat agent is deposited onto a substrate. The threat agent is illuminated via an illumination source along an optical path with a plurality of photons to thereby produce photons transmitted, reflected, emitted or Raman scattered by the threat agent. An optical system collects elastic scatter photons produced by the threat agent and at least one of photons transmitted, reflected, emitted or Raman scattered by the threat agent, wherein said illumination source is located along an optical path, and said substrate is located along a plane wherein the optical path is at an angle other than 90° with respect to the substrate plane. The depth of field of the optical system is extended by passing at least one of the following through a phase mask: elastic scattered photons, and photons transmitted, reflected, emitted or Raman scattered by the threat agent.

Abstract: A system and method for depositing a sample of a threat agent onto a substrate. A single illumination source illuminates the threat agent deposited on the substrate with a plurality of photons to thereby produce elastic scattered photons and Raman scattered photons. The threat agent on the substrate is identified. The system and method operate in a trigger mode that detects the presence or absence of the threat agent, and an identification mode that identifies the threat agent.

Abstract: A system and method for depositing a sample of a threat agent is deposited onto a substrate. A first optical collection device collects at least one of the following: elastic scattered light produced by the threat agent, and Raman scattered light produced by the threat agent. A second optical collection device collects Raman scattered light produced by the threat agent, wherein the second optical collection device comprises a two dimensional non-linear array of optical fibers drawn into a one dimensional fiber stack that converts a non-linear field of view into a linear field of view, wherein the one dimensional fiber stack is coupled to an entrance slit of a Raman imaging spectrometer. The threat agent deposited on the substrate is identified.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a multimode imaging apparatus for simultaneously obtaining multiple wavelength-discriminative spectral images of a sample.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for a fiberscope. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a chemical imaging fiberscope for imaging and collecting optical spectra from a sample having at least one illumination fiber for transmitting light from a first an a second light source to a distal end of a fiberscope; a dichroic mirror disposed at said distal end of the fiberscope such that light from said first light source passes substantially straight through said mirror and light of a predetermined wavelength from said second light source is substantially reflected by said mirror toward said sample to thereby illuminate said sample; and at least one collection fiber for receiving light from said illuminated sample and transmitting the received light to an optical device.

Abstract: A fiberscope device is disclosed which is suitable for video imaging, laser Raman spectroscopy and laser Raman spectroscopic (i.e. chemical) imaging. The fiberscope design minimizes fiber background interference arising from the laser delivery fiber optic and the coherent fiber optic light gathering bundle while maintaining high light throughput efficiency through the use of integrated spectral filters. In the fiberscope design, the laser delivery fiber optic is offset from the coherent fiber optic light gathering bundle. The laser delivery field is captured entirely by the light gathering field of view of the coherent fiber bundle. The fiberscope incorporates spectral filter optical elements that provide environmental insensitivity, particularly to temperature and moisture.