Abstract: An analyzing system is provided. The analyzing system includes a fluid container defining a sample chamber where a sample is contained in the sample chamber, and a sensor including a transparent body with a reverse face and an obverse face where the obverse face having a nanostructured surface. The nanostructured surface includes a plurality of elongate nanostructures having a respective longitudinal axis that is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the obverse face. The analyzing system includes an excitation and detection apparatus that includes an excitation source for generating a beam of polarized radiation and a corresponding radiation detector where the sensor is coupled to the fluid container such that the nanostructured surface is exposed to the sample chamber, to the sample located therein.

Abstract: An analyzing system comprises a multi-well sample carrier in which each well has a transparent bottom with a nanostructured surface inside the well. The sample carrier can be installed in a reader device so that each well of the sample carrier is aligned with a respective light guiding unit of the reader device. In use, each light guiding unit directs a beam of excitation light to the bottom of the respective well, and directs a beam of reflected light from the bottom of the respective well. The nanostructured surface acts as a plasmonic sensor to facilitate analysis of the contents of the wells. The system allows highly sensitive quantification and characterisation of biological interactions in real time across multiple wells, and with improvements in yields, quality and production times.

Abstract: An analysing apparatus comprises a fluid container defining a sample chamber. A sensor having a transparent body with a nanostructured surface is coupled to the fluid container such that the nanostructured surface is exposed to the sample chamber. An excitation and detection apparatus directs a beam of incident polarised electromagnetic radiation onto the reverse face of the body at the Brewster angle, causing no or substantially no reflection of the polarised radiation from the reverse face. The beam of reflected radiation emerges from the reverse face after reflection from the nanostructured surface. The apparatus is simpler and cheaper in comparison with known alternatives that use ATR prisms to create ATR of the light to excite a planar surface.

Abstract: An analyzing system is provided. The analyzing system includes a fluid container defining a sample chamber where a sample is contained in the sample chamber, and a sensor including a transparent body with a reverse face and an obverse face where the obverse face having a nanostructured surface. The nanostructured surface includes a plurality of elongate nanostructures having a respective longitudinal axis that is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the obverse face. The analyzing system includes an excitation and detection apparatus that includes an excitation source for generating a beam of polarized radiation and a corresponding radiation detector where the sensor is coupled to the fluid container such that the nanostructured surface is exposed to the sample chamber, to the sample located therein.

Abstract: An analysing apparatus comprises a fluid container defining a sample chamber. A sensor having a transparent body with a nanostructured surface is coupled to the fluid container such that the nanostructured surface is exposed to the sample chamber. An excitation and detection apparatus directs a beam of incident polarised electromagnetic radiation onto the reverse face of the body at the Brewster angle, causing no or substantially no reflection of the polarised radiation from the reverse face. The beam of reflected radiation emerges from the reverse face after reflection from the nanostructured surface. The apparatus is simpler and cheaper in comparison with known alternatives that use ATR prisms to create ATR of the light to excite a planar surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention concern a passive discharge assembly comprising one or more substantially sharp electrode pins that are positioned proximate to a charged, insulating surface, such as the optical entrance and exit surface of a Q-switch crystal, e.g., lithium niobate (LiNbO3). The electrode pins are connected either to the ground or, alternatively, to a static source of neutralizing charge. The purpose of the electrodes is to ionize the air near the tips due to the high electric field generated by the surface charge. The air ions, in turn, neutralize the surface charge as they are attracted to the surface due to the electrical attraction. In the absence of a surface charge, no air ionization occurs. In one embodiment, the electrode pins are located near the Q-switch crystal surface, but outside the path of the laser beam propagating into and out of the Q-switch crystal.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention concern a passive discharge assembly comprising one or more substantially sharp electrode pins that are positioned proximate to a charged, insulating surface, such as the optical entrance and exit surface of a Q-switch crystal, e.g., lithium niobate (LiNbO3). The electrode pins are connected either to the ground or, alternatively, to a static source of neutralizing charge. The purpose of the electrodes is to ionize the air near the tips due to the high electric field generated by the surface charge. The air ions, in turn, neutralize the surface charge as they are attracted to the surface due to the electrical attraction. In the absence of a surface charge, no air ionization occurs. In one embodiment, the electrode pins are located near the Q-switch crystal surface, but outside the path of the laser beam propagating into and out of the Q-switch crystal.

Abstract: A method of disposing a plurality of isolated particles of a first material onto a substrate comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a first species onto the substrate; (b) anodizing the first species to produce a second species; (c) altering the surface of the second species so that at least one first region of the second species is of greater thickness than at least one second region of the second species; (d) depositing the first material onto the second species; and (e) levelling the surface of the first material and the second species.