The present disclosure provides a scanning probe, a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the scanning probe. The scanning probe includes a base and a micro-tip disposed on an end of the base, wherein at least a section of the micro-tip comprises a lateral surface with a concavely curved generatrix. In the method, an end of a probe precursor is immersed in a corrosive solution by having a length direction of the probe precursor inclined with a liquid surface of the corrosive solution. The probe precursor is corroded by the corrosive solution while a corrosion current of the corroding is monitored. The probe precursor is moved away from the corrosive solution after a magnitude of the corrosion current has a plunge. The apparatus includes a container containing the corrosive solution, and a driving device configured to move the probe precursor in the container through a fastener.

A Raman spectrometric imaging method, including: placing a sample on a two-dimensional translation stage; emitting a first light beam by a first optical comb light source; dividing the first light beam into a pump light beam and a depletion light beam to illuminate the sample; guiding the pump light beam to illuminate a region of the sample to excite molecules of the sample in the region; guiding the depletion light beam to the region of the sample to make excited molecules at a periphery of the region to return into a vibrational ground state; emitting a second light beam as a probe light beam by a second optical comb light source to the remaining excited molecules to generate a CARS signal; recording the CARS signal for imaging; moving the two-dimensional translation stage to scan other regions of the sample to form an image of the sample.

A Raman spectrometric imaging method, including: placing a sample on a two-dimensional translation stage; emitting a first light beam by a first optical comb light source; dividing the first light beam into a pump light beam and a depletion light beam to illuminate the sample; guiding the pump light beam to illuminate a region of the sample to excite molecules of the sample in the region; guiding the depletion light beam to the region of the sample to make excited molecules at a periphery of the region to return into a vibrational ground state; emitting a second light beam as a probe light beam by a second optical comb light source to the remaining excited molecules to generate a CARS signal; recording the CARS signal for imaging; moving the two-dimensional translation stage to scan other regions of the sample to form an image of the sample.

A method for enhancement of spontaneous Raman scattering (SRS) from gases comprising a multimode blue laser diode which receives feedback from a near concentric bidirectional multipass cavity in such a way as to generate a circulating power of order 100 W for a sample volume of 10 mm.sup.3. The feedback, provided via a volume Bragg grating, reduces the laser bandwidth to 4 cm.sup.−1. Spectra of spontaneous Raman scattering from ambient atmospheric air, detected collinearly with the pump, were recorded with a limit of detection below 1 part-per-million.

A method for enhancement of spontaneous Raman scattering (SRS) from gases comprising a multimode blue laser diode which receives feedback from a near concentric bidirectional multipass cavity in such a way as to generate a circulating power of order 100 W for a sample volume of 10 mm.sup.3. The feedback, provided via a volume Bragg grating, reduces the laser bandwidth to 4 cm.sup.−1. Spectra of spontaneous Raman scattering from ambient atmospheric air, detected collinearly with the pump, were recorded with a limit of detection below 1 part-per-million.

A Raman spectrometer 1 comprising a laser 1001 for illuminating a sample S under investigation, an auto-focusing system for focusing the laser 1001 on the sample S under investigation, and a detector 1010 for detecting Raman spectra emitted in response to illumination by the laser 1001. The auto-focusing system further comprises at least one adjustable focusing element for adjusting the location of the focus of the laser, a determination unit 1012 for determining a selected location for the focus of the laser 1001, and a control unit for adjusting the adjustable focusing element to focus the laser at said selected location determined by the determination unit 1012. The auto-focusing system is arranged under the control of software to enable determination of the selected location for the focus of the laser 1001.

A Raman spectrometer 1 comprising a laser 1001 for illuminating a sample S under investigation, an auto-focusing system for focusing the laser 1001 on the sample S under investigation, and a detector 1010 for detecting Raman spectra emitted in response to illumination by the laser 1001. The auto-focusing system further comprises at least one adjustable focusing element for adjusting the location of the focus of the laser, a determination unit 1012 for determining a selected location for the focus of the laser 1001, and a control unit for adjusting the adjustable focusing element to focus the laser at said selected location determined by the determination unit 1012. The auto-focusing system is arranged under the control of software to enable determination of the selected location for the focus of the laser 1001.

Disclosed is an assay for determining resistance in a target cell or tissue to a therapy associated with cellular stress using chemical microscopy and high-throughput single cell analysis to determine functional metabolic alteration, including determining metabolic reprogramming in a target cell or tissue to a therapy associated with cellular stress, and methods of using the assays.

The Nondestructive Fluid Sensing System is a device that rapidly scans fluids to determine physical and chemical properties of the sample fluid. The Nondestructive Fluid Sensing System can detect the presence of a sample fluid with various optical and electrical sensors, and determines physical and chemical properties. The system features several innovations that increase sample throughput, reduces sample cross contamination, and eliminates waste products typically used in chemical tests. The system may be applied to various industries including manufacturing quality control, and healthcare.

The Nondestructive Fluid Sensing System is a device that rapidly scans fluids to determine physical and chemical properties of the sample fluid. The Nondestructive Fluid Sensing System can detect the presence of a sample fluid with various optical and electrical sensors, and determines physical and chemical properties. The system features several innovations that increase sample throughput, reduces sample cross contamination, and eliminates waste products typically used in chemical tests. The system may be applied to various industries including manufacturing quality control, and healthcare.