The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for a fast thermo-optical characterisation of particles. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and a device to measure the stability of (bio)molecules, the interaction of molecules, in particular biomolecules, with, e.g. further (bio)molecules, particularly modified (bio)molecules, particles, beads, and/or the determination of the length/size (e.g. hydrodynamic radius) of individual (bio)molecules, particles, beads and/or the determination of length/size (e.g. hydrodynamic radius).

A screening system includes a modulated light source, a wavelength-shifting filter, and a photosensor. The light source is operable to emit light into a screening region through which people or objects move. The photosensor is adjacent the screening region and is operable to emit sensor signals from scattered light received through the wavelength-shifting filter from interaction of the light with the people or objects in the screening region.

According to exemplary practice of the present invention, a probe laser beam is aligned with a position detector and is spatially/geometrically related to a pump laser beam. A temperature gradient is produced in a medium by the pump beam. Since an increase or decrease in the temperature of the medium is related to an increase or decrease in the refractive index of the medium, position sensing of the deflection of the probe beam relative to the pump beam indicates whether the medium is heating or cooling.

A method and apparatus for analyzing a substance is disclosed. An optical medium is arranged on a substance surface with at least one region of the optical medium surface in contact with the substance surface. An excitation light beam is emitted through the contacting region of the medium surface (to the substance surface. A measurement light beam is emitted through the optical medium to the contacting region of the medium surface such that the measurement light beam and the excitation light beam overlap on the interface of the optical medium and of the substance surface, on which the measurement light beam is reflected. A deflection of the reflected measurement light beam is detected in dependence on the wavelength of the excitation light beam. The substance is then analyzed based on the detected deflection of the measurement light beam in dependence on the wavelength of the excitation light beam.

The invention relates to a device and a method for analyzing a substance (5), comprising an excitation transmitting device in the form of a laser device (3) for generating at least one electromagnetic excitation beam (8), a measuring body (1) having a detection region (4), which is adjacent to a measuring surface (2) of the measuring body (1) and has a pressure-dependent or temperature-dependent specific electrical resistance and/or generates electrical, in particular piezoelectric, voltage signals in the event of pressure or temperature changes, and comprising a device for analyzing the substance on the basis of detected signals.

Asymmetric interferometry is used with various embodiments of Optical Photothermal Infrared (OPTIR) systems to enhance the signal strength indicating the photothermal effect on a sample.

The invention relates, inter alia, to an apparatus for analyzing a material, including an excitation emission device for generating at least one electromagnetic excitation beam, in particular an exciting light beam, having at least one excitation wavelength, further including a detection device for detecting a reaction signal, and a device for analyzing the material on the basis of the detected reaction signal.

System for performing chemical spectroscopy on samples from the scale of nanometers to millimeters or more with a multifunctional platform combining analytical and imaging techniques including dual beam photo-thermal spectroscopy with confocal microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence detection, various vacuum analytical techniques and/or mass spectrometry. In embodiments described herein, the light beams of a dual-beam system are used for heating and sensing.

A method includes directing a first plurality of probe laser pulses through a sample, dividing each of the first plurality of probe laser pulses to generate a first interferogram, and generating first image data reproducible as a first phase image of the sample. A plurality of pump laser bursts are directed onto the sample to heat the sample. A second plurality of probe laser pulses are directed through the sample at a predetermined time delay. Each of the second plurality of probe laser pulses are divided to generate a second interferogram. Second image data is generated that is reproducible as a second phase image of the sample. A transient phase shift is determined in the second phase image relative to the first phase image. A vibrational spectroscopy property is determined of the sample based on the transient phase shift, thereby allowing an identification of chemical bond information of within the sample.

An apparatus for photo-acoustic measurement of a measurement target in a fluid flow comprises:an ellipsoidal measurement chamber (3) having a first focal point and a second focal point; a duct (6, 7, 8) configured to guide a fluid flow through the measurement chamber (3) along a first axis (X) through the first focal point; light source means for generating an excitation light beam of modulated intensity; means configured to pass the excitation light beam through the measurement chamber (3) along a second axis (Y), which is different from the first axis (X), such that the excitation light beam crosses the fluid flow at the first focal point and that the crossing of the fluid flow and the excitation light beam defines an excitation volume (4) within which the fluid flow is excited by the excitation light beam to generate acoustic waves; and detecting means (5) arranged at the second focal point and configured to detect said acoustic waves, wherein the detecting means has no direct contact with the fluid flow, and wherein the ellipsoidal measurement chamber has inner walls that are configured to focus the acoustic waves generated by the excitation light beam within the excitation volume (4) onto the detecting means (5).