Abstract: Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy apparatus for use in analysing a sample comprising a sample receiving location 2 for receiving a sample 3 for analysis; an illumination arrangement 4 for directing light towards a received sample; a detector 6 for detecting light reflected by a received sample; and collection optics 5 for directing light reflected by a received sample towards the detector. The illumination arrangement further comprises an interferometer 42 and a half beam block 45a, 45b which is disposed substantially at a focus in the optical path for blocking light which exits the interferometer, passes said focus, and is reflected from re-entering the interferometer.

Abstract: Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy apparatus for use in analysing a sample comprising a sample receiving location 2 for receiving a sample 3 for analysis; an illumination arrangement 4 for directing light towards a received sample; a detector 6 for detecting light reflected by a received sample; and collection optics 5 for directing light reflected by a received sample towards the detector. The illumination arrangement further comprises an interferometer 42 and a half beam block 45a, 45b which is disposed substantially at a focus in the optical path for blocking light which exits the interferometer, passes said focus, and is reflected from re-entering the interferometer.

Abstract: A method for identifying the presence of at least one adulterant substance in a sample. The method comprises receiving sets of sample spectral data, reference spectral data, validation spectral data each set for a respective validation example, and adulterant substance spectral data for said at least one adulterant substance. From these residue data which is representative of a residue which would remain after performing a least squares fitting process between the sample spectral data and the reference spectral data is determined and modified sample residue data which is representative of a residue which would remain after performing a least squares fitting process between the sample spectral data, the reference spectral data and the adulterant substance spectral data is determined. The corresponding two residue data sets are also determined for each validation example.

Abstract: Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy apparatus for use in analyzing a sample comprising a sample receiving location 2 for receiving a sample 3 for analysis; an illumination arrangement 4 for directing light towards a received sample; a detector 6 for detecting light reflected by a received sample; and collection optics 5 for directing light reflected by a received sample towards the detector. The illumination arrangement further comprises an interferometer 42 and a half beam block 45a, 45b which is disposed substantially at a focus in the optical path for blocking light which exits the interferometer, passes said focus, and is reflected from re-entering the interferometer.

Abstract: A method for identifying the presence of at least one adulterant substance in a sample. The method comprises receiving sets of sample spectral data, reference spectral data, validation spectral data each set for a respective validation example, and adulterant substance spectral data for said at least one adulterant substance. From these residue data which is representative of a residue which would remain after performing a least squares fitting process between the sample spectral data and the reference spectral data is determined and modified sample residue data which is representative of a residue which would remain after performing a least squares fitting process between the sample spectral data, the reference spectral data and the adulterant substance spectral data is determined. The corresponding two residue data sets are also determined for each validation example.

Abstract: A method for identifying the presence of at least one adulterant substance in a sample. The method comprises receiving sets of sample spectral data, reference spectral data, validation spectral data each set for a respective validation example, and adulterant substance spectral data for said at least one adulterant substance. From these residue data which is representative of a residue which would remain after performing a least squares fitting process between the sample spectral data and the reference spectral data is determined and modified sample residue data which is representative of a residue which would remain after performing a least squares fitting process between the sample spectral data, the reference spectral data and the adulterant substance spectral data is determined. The corresponding two residue data sets are also determined for each validation example.

Abstract: Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy apparatus for use in analysing a sample comprising a sample receiving location 2 for receiving a sample 3 for analysis; an illumination arrangement 4 for directing light towards a received sample; a detector 6 for detecting light reflected by a received sample; and collection optics 5 for directing light reflected by a received sample towards the detector. The illumination arrangement further comprises an interferometer 42 and a half beam block 45a, 45b which is disposed substantially at a focus in the optical path for blocking light which exits the interferometer, passes said focus, and is reflected from re-entering the interferometer.

Abstract: A method of using a spectrometer to produce corrected diamond Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) spectral data includes acquiring, using the spectrometer, an initial set of ATR spectral data for a sample pressed into contact with a diamond ATR crystals; numerically matching, using the spectrometer, a pressure dependent diamond artifact reference spectrum to a corresponding pressure dependent diamond artifact in the initial set of ATR spectral data; and numerically subtracting out the numerically matched pressure dependent diamond artifact reference spectrum from the initial set of ATR spectral data to yield a corrected set of ATR spectral data for the sample for output by the spectrometer.

Abstract: Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy apparatus for use in analyzing a sample comprising a sample receiving location (2) for receiving a sample (3) for analysis; an illumination arrangement (4) for directing light towards a received sample; a detector (6) for detecting light reflected by a received sample; and collection optics (5) for directing light reflected by a received sample towards the detector. The illumination arrangement further comprises an interferometer (42) and a half beam block (45a, 45b) which is disposed substantially at a focus in the optical path for blocking light which exits the interferometer, passes said focus, and is reflected from reentering the interferometer.

Abstract: A method for identifying the presence of at least one adulterant substance in a sample. The method comprises receiving sets of sample spectral data, reference spectral data, validation spectral data each set for a respective validation example, and adulterant substance spectral data for said at least one adulterant substance. From these residue data which is representative of a residue which would remain after performing a least squares fitting process between the sample spectral data and the reference spectral data is determined and modified sample residue data which is representative of a residue which would remain after performing a least squares fitting process between the sample spectral data, the reference spectral data and the adulterant substance spectral data is determined. The corresponding two residue data sets are also determined for each validation example.

Abstract: Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy apparatus for use in analysing a sample comprising a sample receiving location (2) for receiving a sample (3) for analysis; an illumination arrangement (4) for directing light towards a received sample; a detector (6) for detecting light reflected by a received sample; and collection optics (5) for directing light reflected by a received sample towards the detector. The illumination arrangement further comprises an interferometer (42) and a half beam block (45a, 45b) which is disposed substantially at a focus in the optical path for blocking light which exits the interferometer, passes said focus, and is reflected from reentering the interferometer.

Abstract: A spectroscopic instrument comprising a compartment (2) for housing instrument components (3) and desiccant (4) to protect the instrument components, and a deformable container (5) having at least one wall portion which is movable within the compartment (2) so as to vary the volume of the compartment (2) that is occupied by the deformable container as the container is deformed. The interior of the deformable container (5) is in fluid communication with the surroundings of the instrument, such that a difference in pressure between the compartment and the surroundings tends to cause the deformable container to deform, moving the wall portion.

Abstract: A spectroscopic instrument (1) comprising at least one load bearing anti-vibration foot portion (3) for supporting the instrument on a surface. Each foot portion (3) comprises a load bearing elastomeric portion (5) and an internal stub portion (4) which is provided within the elastomeric portion and which is rigid compared to the elastomeric portion. An internal wall of the elastomeric portion (5) is spaced from an external wall of the stub portion (4) such that the elastomeric portion (5) is moveable relative to the stub portion (4) to absorb vibration. Liquid is provided in the spacing between the internal wall of the elastomeric portion (5) and the external wall of the stub portion (4) to damp such movement.

Abstract: Certain embodiments herein are directed to a differential scanning calorimeter comprising a sample holder thermally coupled to a first furnace, a reference holder thermally coupled to a second furnace, and a processor electrically coupled to the first furnace and the second furnace, the processor configured to receive data during a scan of a sample to provide a heat flow trace and further configured to subtract a calculated baseline from the heat flow trace, the calculated baseline comprising the sum of an isothermal baseline function, a scanning baseline function and a transient baseline function. Calibration methods are also described.

Abstract: A method of using a spectrometer to produce corrected diamond Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) spectral data includes acquiring, using the spectrometer, an initial set of ATR spectral data for a sample pressed into contact with a diamond ATR crystals; numerically matching, using the spectrometer, a pressure dependent diamond artefact reference spectrum to a corresponding pressure dependent diamond artefact in the initial set of ATR spectral data; and numerically subtracting out the numerically matched pressure dependent diamond artefact reference spectrum from the initial set of ATR spectral data to yield a corrected set of ATR spectral data for the sample for output by the spectrometer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectroscopy. The systems and methods may generally involve differentiating an acquired image in a spectral domain, restricting a spectral range of the acquired image, subtracting an average absorbance from the restricted image data, and applying a principal component analysis to extract significant spectral features from the restricted image data.

Abstract: A spectroscopic instrument (1) comprising at least one load bearing anti-vibration foot portion (3) for supporting the instrument on a surface. Each foot portion (3) comprises a load bearing elastomeric portion (5) and an internal stub portion (4) which is provided within the elastomeric portion and which is rigid compared to the elastomeric portion. An internal wall of the elastomeric portion (5) is spaced from an external wall of the stub portion (4) such that the elastomeric portion (5) is moveable relative to the stub portion (4) to absorb vibration. Liquid is provided in the spacing between the internal wall of the elastomeric portion (5) and the external wall of the stub portion (4) to damp such movement.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal is carried on the support. The mounting (100) is preferably pivotally mounted on the support (40) so that it can be pivoted from a position in which the crystal lines on the axis of the microscope to a position in which a sample carried on the support can be observed visually. The mounting is arranged such that it can be returned reliably and reproducibly to its original position with the crystal on the axis.

Abstract: A spectroscopic instrument comprising a compartment (2) for housing instrument components (3) and desiccant (4) to protect the instrument components, and a deformable container (5) having at least one wall portion which is movable within the compartment (2) so as to vary the volume of the compartment (2) that is occupied by the deformable container as the container is deformed. The interior of the deformable container (5) is in fluid communication with the surroundings of the instrument, such that a difference in pressure between the compartment and the surroundings tends to cause the deformable container to deform, moving the wall portion.

Abstract: An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal is carried on the support. The mounting (100) is preferably pivotally mounted on the support (40) so that it can be pivoted from a position in which the crystal lines on the axis of the microscope to a position in which a sample carried on the support can be observed visually. The mounting is arranged such that it can be returned reliably and reproducibly to its original position with the crystal on the axis.