Abstract: An interfacial electric field intensity of a surface is measured by covalently binding a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore to the surface and irradiating it with actinic radiation while it is in contact with a liquid and measuring a first fluorescence emission spectrum. A solution of the voltage sensitive chromophore dissolved in a sample of the liquid is also irradiated with actinic radiation and a second fluorescence emission spectrum is measured. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to determine the interfacial electric field intensity.

Abstract: A characteristic difference between first and second liquids is measured using a surface having a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore that is covalently bound to the surface. The first liquid is brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a first fluorescence emission spectrum. The second liquid is also brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a second fluorescence emission spectrum. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to characterize a difference between the first and second fluids.

Abstract: A characteristic of a liquid is measured by providing a surface having a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore that is covalently bound to the surface. The liquid is brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a first fluorescence emission spectrum. A solution of the voltage sensitive chromophore dissolved in a sample of the liquid is also irradiated with actinic radiation and a second fluorescence emission spectrum is measured. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to determine the characteristic of the liquid.

Abstract: A characteristic of a liquid is measured by providing a surface having a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore that is covalently bound to the surface. The liquid is brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a first fluorescence emission spectrum. A solution of the voltage sensitive chromophore dissolved in a sample of the liquid is also irradiated with actinic radiation and a second fluorescence emission spectrum is measured. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to determine the characteristic of the liquid.

Abstract: A surface evaluation system is described for evaluating a surface. A chromophore application system is used for applying a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore to the surface, wherein the applied voltage sensitive chromophore is covalently bound to the surface and has a fluorescence emission spectrum which varies in accordance with a characteristic of the surface. An irradiation source irradiates the monolayer of the covalently bound voltage sensitive chromophore with actinic radiation. A fluorescence sensing system measures a fluorescence emission spectrum from the irradiated monolayer of the covalently bound voltage sensitive chromophore, and an analysis system analyzes the measured fluorescence emission spectrum to evaluate the characteristic of the surface.

Abstract: An interfacial electric field intensity of a surface is measured by covalently binding a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore to the surface and irradiating it with actinic radiation while it is in contact with a liquid and measuring a first fluorescence emission spectrum. A solution of the voltage sensitive chromophore dissolved in a sample of the liquid is also irradiated with actinic radiation and a second fluorescence emission spectrum is measured. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to determine the interfacial electric field intensity.

Abstract: A characteristic difference between first and second liquids is measured using a surface having a monolayer of a voltage sensitive chromophore that is covalently bound to the surface. The first liquid is brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a first fluorescence emission spectrum. The second liquid is also brought into contact with the surface and it is irradiated with actinic radiation to measure a second fluorescence emission spectrum. The first and second fluorescence emission spectra are compared to characterize a difference between the first and second fluids.

Abstract: A method of measuring the thickness or the rate of change of thickness of a layer as the layer is being formed on a substrate, includes illuminating the layer through the substrate with low coherence light that transmits through the layer; collecting a portion of the reflected light from each optical interface of the substrate and layer with a low coherence interferometer; and, calculating the thickness or the rate of change of thickness of the layer according to the obtained interferometric data.

Abstract: A method of measuring the thickness or the rate of change of thickness of a layer as the layer is being formed on a substrate, includes illuminating the layer through the substrate with low coherence light that transmits through the layer; collecting a portion of the reflected light from each optical interface of the substrate and layer with a low coherence interferometer; and, calculating the thickness or the rate of change of thickness of the layer according to the obtained interferometric data.

Abstract: A method of using a compacted pellet having uniform blended mixture with at least first and second different organic components that sublime at temperatures T1 and T2 respectively, wherein T1 represents the temperature of the first organic material with the lowest sublimation temperature and T2 represents the temperature of the second organic material with the highest sublimation temperature, to form an organic layer having a uniform blended mixture of the organic components, includes providing a compacted pellet, having a top and bottom surface, into a boat having an open top surface wherein the compacted pellet conforms to the interior of the boat; and applying heat to the top of the compacted pellet to cause the deposition of a uniform blended mixture of the organic components to form an organic layer.

Abstract: An on-line method for detecting particle size of a liquid during a process in which there is not a correlation between low absorbance with small particle size, the method comprises the steps of measuring a plurality of reference particle sizes each associated with a particular near infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum for creating a reference infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum having high absorbance with small particle size; measuring on-line a near infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum of the liquid during the process; and determining the particle size of the on-line liquid based on correlating the on-line-measured particle size with the reference near infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum.

Abstract: An on-line method for detecting particle size of a liquid during a process in which there is not a correlation between low absorbance with small particle size, the method comprises the steps of measuring a plurality of reference particle sizes each associated with a particular near infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum for creating a reference infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum having high absorbance with small particle size; measuring on-line a near infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum of the liquid during the process; and determining the particle size of the on-line liquid based on correlating the on-line-measured particle size with the reference near infrared diffuse reflectance spectrum.

Abstract: There is disclosed a slide test element and method of assay that allows for detection of analytes in biological liquids without the use of any detection reagents. The method uses NIR spectroscopy and a test element comprising a support, and a substantially constant light-path defining layer comprising a diffusely-reflecting material that is a) sufficiently porous in all directions as to allow a liquid to spread uniformly in all directions, and b) homogeneously reflects at least 95% of NIR radiation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a slide test element and method of assay that allows for detection of analytes in biological liquids without the use of any detection reagents. The method uses NIR spectroscopy and a test element comprising a support, and a substantially constant light-path defining layer comprising a diffusely-reflecting material that is a) sufficiently porous in all directions as to allow a liquid to spread uniformly in all directions, and b) homogeneously reflects at least 95% of NIR radiation.

Abstract: A postacquired spectrophotometer, for use with a sample and reference. The spectrophotometer has a filter unit, defining an axis of movement, and pluralities of designated sites and dark sites disposed in uniform relation to the axis. The designated and dark sites are disposed in alternation. Alternating designated sites have apertures and filters covering the apertures. Further, a main member, coaxial with the filter unit, has sample and reference beam paths, which are intersected by the sites. The main member has disposed, in operative relation to the actuators, an actuator sensor, which generates an integration actuator signal upon alignment with each integration actuator and a clamping actuator signal upon alignment with each clamping actuator. Moreover, a drive continuously moves the filter unit relative to the axis and beam paths.

Abstract: A spectrophotometer is described, comprising a single light source, a single detector, optics for dually and alternatively reading a sample and a reference, and only one moving part. That moving part is a chopper containing multiple pass-through apertures, each filled with a unique bandpass filter to select wavelengths to specifically illuminate the sample or reference. To inform the spectrophotometer whether and when it is reading the sample or the reference, trigger means are provided in at least twice the number of the pass-through apertures.

Abstract: A waveguide optical device having a guide member for propagation of light in a longitudinal direction. The guide member has upper and lower boundaries. A mass of birefringent material is disposed proximal to the guide member. The birefringent material has molecular dipoles subject to alignment by an imposed electrical field. The birefringent mass is overlapped by the optical field of the propagated light. An upper electrode is disposed in spaced relation to the birefringent mass. A lower electrode is disposed in spaced relation to the guide member. The electrodes have the capability of imposing an alternating current voltage across the birefringent mass to rotate the molecular dipoles of the birefringent mass in a plane defined by the normal to the guide member and the propagation vector of the light.

Abstract: There are disclosed an instrument and method for using near IR to discriminate between healthy and diseased tissue, using, e.g., a catheter and a spectrophotometer. Near IR is passed at certain wavelengths to suspected tissue, and reflected light is analyzed to determine the absorbance, and preferably the second derivative thereof. From identification of the absorption spectra of known diseased and known healthy tissue, a relation has been established to determine the following correlation equation for determining the predictive value of y:y=Co+C.sub.1 A(.lambda..sub.1)+C.sub.2 A(.lambda..sub.2)wherein A(.lambda..sub.1)+A(.lambda..sub.2) are the second derivatives for the absorbance at the two selected wavelengths. For blood cholesterol esters and plaque, .lambda..sub.1 is preferably 1714.5 and .lambda..sub.2 is preferably 1678.5 nm. Solving for the coefficients Co, C.sub.1 and C.sub.2, it has been shown that values of y less than -8.0 represent diseased tissue, which should be treated.

Abstract: Silicic acid heteropolycondensates containing a luminescent compound, whose luminescence is quenchable by oxygen, form suitable sensors for measuring oxygen content in an oxygen-containing gaseous, liquid, or solid sample.