An optical coherence tomography device, and an optical coherence tomography method using the optical coherence tomography device. The optical coherence tomography device includes an objective lens configured to focus light from a light source onto a sample and is configured to perform tomographic imaging of the sample based on interference between sample light, which is reflected light from the sample, and reference light, which is reflected light from a reference surface provided between the objective lens and the sample. The sample light and the reference light are each to pass through the objective lens. The objective lens is an Fθ lens.

There is provided a method of detecting a change of a state of a liquid comprising the steps of: •providing a liquid detection medium (12) comprising a liquid and having a plurality of anisotropic magnetic particles suspended therein; •applying a modulated magnetic field across at least a portion of the liquid detection medium (12), wherein the magnetic field induces an alignment of the magnetic particles; •introducing electromagnetic radiation (22) into the liquid detection medium (12); •detecting a variable which is modulated by the applied magnetic field, wherein the variable is associated with the interaction of the electromagnetic radiation (22) with the magnetic particles and wherein the change in the state of the liquid causes a variation in the detected variable; and •correlating the variation in the detected variable with the change in the state of the liquid.

A photoacoustic apparatus, comprising: at least one optical amplifier, configured to produce light; at least one photonic integrated circuit, configured as a tunable light filter; light guiding means, wherein the at least one optical amplifier, at least one photonic integrated circuit and light guiding means are configured as an optical cavity to produce laser light having an optical path within the optical cavity; and at least one acoustic sensor configured to detect sound produced by analyte introduced into the optical path of the laser light.

A photoacoustic remote sensing system for imaging a subsurface structure in a sample, comprising exactly one laser source configured to generate a pulsed or intensity-modulated excitation beam configured to generate ultrasonic pressure signals in the sample at an excitation location, and an interrogation beam incident on the sample at the excitation location, a portion of the interrogation beam returning from the sample that is indicative of the generated ultrasonic pressure signals, an optical system configured to focus the excitation beam and the interrogation beam below a surface of the sample, a detector configured to detect the returning portion of the interrogation beam, and a processor configured to calculate an image of the sample based on a detected intensity modulation of the returning portion of the interrogation beam from below the surface of the sample.

An optical beam controller includes: an optical multiple-beam generator generating a plurality of wavelength-swept optical beams; and an optical frequency difference setter setting an optical frequency difference in any combination of the plurality of optical beams in such a way as to be larger than a band of a photodetector that receives an optical beam.

Aspects of the present disclosure include reconfigurable integrated circuits for characterizing particles of a sample in a flow stream. Reconfigurable integrated circuits according to certain embodiments are programmed to calculate parameters of a particle in a flow stream from detected light; compare the calculated parameters of the particle with parameters of one or more particle classifications; classify the particle based on the comparison between the parameters of the particle classifications and the calculated parameters of the particle; and adjust one or more parameters of the particle classifications based on the calculated parameters of the particle. Methods for characterizing particles in a flow stream with the subject integrated circuits are also described. Systems and integrated circuit devices programmed for practicing the subject methods, such as on a flow cytometer, are also provided.

Aspects of the present disclosure include reconfigurable integrated circuits for characterizing particles of a sample in a flow stream. Reconfigurable integrated circuits according to certain embodiments are programmed to calculate parameters of a particle in a flow stream from detected light; compare the calculated parameters of the particle with parameters of one or more particle classifications; classify the particle based on the comparison between the parameters of the particle classifications and the calculated parameters of the particle; and adjust one or more parameters of the particle classifications based on the calculated parameters of the particle. Methods for characterizing particles in a flow stream with the subject integrated circuits are also described. Systems and integrated circuit devices programmed for practicing the subject methods, such as on a flow cytometer, are also provided.

Disclosed is a laser irradiation state diagnosing method which allows accurately diagnosing a laser irradiation state. When irradiating a laser beam so that an irradiation spot scans the surface of the irradiation object, acoustic information in vicinity of the irradiation spot is acquired. And based on characteristics of the acoustic information, such as an intensity of a component of a specific frequency band or a frequency band distribution, a state of peeling of the adhered substances existing on the surface of the irradiation object is determined.

A spectrometry device includes a switch and a converter. The switch acquires a first reception signal and a second reception signal that respectively include information relating to an optical spectrum and switches between outputting the first reception signal and outputting the second reception signal based on control by a controller. The converter converts the first reception signal or the second reception signal output from the switch into a digital signal.

Devices and methods for non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) sensing are disclosed. In one aspect, a non-dispersive infrared sensor is disclosed which, in one embodiment includes a nanophotonic infrared emitting metamaterial (NIREM) emitter configured to selectively emit radiation corresponding to a respective vibrational resonance frequency for each of a plurality of different analytes of interest. The broadband detector can be configured to detect photons associated with vibrational resonance of each of the plurality of analytes of interest in response to the emitted radiation from the NIREM emitter, in order to determine properties of one or more of the analytes of interest.