The device and method of a narrow range or single wavelength Raman analyzer instrument optimized to capture a narrow range, or even single wavenumber, of signal spectrum known to be significant to the substance under analysis is disclosed.

A flow cytometry measurement system is disclosed which includes a flow chamber configured to flow particles of interest in a flow stream, one or more optical sources configured to excite the particles of interest by an excitation light activated and deactivated according to a pulse train thus causing particles of interest emitting emission light, one or more sensor packages each comprising a plurality of photodetectors configured to receive emission light from the particles of interest and, in response, provide an output voltage signal and an output current signal corresponding to photoelectron response of an incident photon on the one or more sensor packages, and a detector configured to determine successive single molecular decay of the particles of interest, generate an emission pulse associated with each incident photon on the one or more sensor packages, and count the number of emission pulses.

A compact spectrometer includes an excitation light source configured to generate excitation light and arranged to illuminate a spot on a sample. A dispersive element includes at least one movable component and spatially separates output light emanating from the sample in response to the excitation light into a plurality of different wavelength bands. A moveable component of the dispersive element causes the plurality of different wavelength bands of the output light to be scanned across a detector. The detector includes at least one light sensor that senses the wavelength bands of the output light and generates an output electrical signal in response to the sensed output light.

Provided is a portable biosensor that includes a sample filter cartridge, a filter collector, an optical sphere, an electromagnetic radiation emitter, a photo-detector, a processor, a signal display, a vacuum pump, and a power supply. The sample filter cartridge selectively removes small molecules to minimize spectral interference in the detection signal. The sample is concentrated onto the filter collector and subjected to illumination by the electromagnetic radiation emitter, producing Raman-scattering. The optical sphere collects and distributes the Raman-scattering shifts, which then pass through a spectral filter to produce spectral filtered scattering, which is then reflected by the concave holographic flat-field grating onto the photo-detector. The data is displayed graphically to provide the Raman-scattering shift data. The data is compared with a database for sample identification. The device is contained within a housing that is small enough to be easily transported for field use.

A measurement system includes an optical source (e.g., laser) to irradiate a sample (e.g., a cell); a solid-state photon detector (SSPD) to receive resultant light from the sample; and a photon counter to count photons received by the SSPD. The photon counter can include a differentiator to provide a differentiated photon signal and a crossing detector configured to count photons based on a number of times the differentiated photon signal crosses a predetermined threshold level. In some examples, a pulse detector can provide a pulse-width signal from the SSPD output photon signal, and a pulse counter can count based on both a number of pulses and widths of the pulses. The SSPD can include a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array or a solid-state photomultiplier. Some examples use the measurement system to measure samples in fluids, e.g., in flow cytometers or multi-well plates.

An optical analysis method and assembly for analysing an ultrashort laser pulse, the assembly includes a single-shot optical autocorrelator, having a polarity separator for angular separation of an incident laser radiation beam with fundamental frequency (ω) into two laser radiation beams with the fundamental frequency and linear polarities which are orthogonal to one another, the two beams forming angle therebetween so that the beams at least partially overlap at the output of the separator, a type-II nonlinear crystal receives the at least partially overlapping beams and generates, at the output of the crystal, a single laser radiation beam with harmonic frequency (2ω). A spectral filtering device selectively allows the passage of the single laser radiation beam while blocking the laser radiation beams with fundamental frequency. The non-linear crystal, spectral filtering device, and detection system detect an intensimetric single-shot autocorrelation trace of the order of two at the harmonic frequency.

A liquid measuring system (LMS) comprising: a light source; a multi-region optical filter (MROF); a sample cell configured to contain a liquid sample; an optical detection subsystem (ODS) having an optical detector for measuring optical properties of light emanating from the liquid sample. The MROF may include a spectral filter region such as a bandpass or a long-pass filter type region, and natural density (ND) type filter region, for enabling simultaneous optical measuring at least of turbidity level and algae concentration in a water sample contained by the sample cell, by having light passed through the water sample and the MROF before reaching the optical detector of the ODS. Embodiments of the MROFs may be also used, for example for selective spectral attenuation of light illuminating the liquid sample to achieve reduction in distortions due to stray light.

Embodiments disclosed include methods and apparatus for Fluorescent Enhanced Photothermal Infrared (FE-PTIR) spectroscopy and chemical imaging, which enables high sensitivity and high spatial resolution measurements of IR absorption with simultaneous confocal fluorescence imaging. In various embodiments, the FE-PTIR technique utilizes combined/simultaneous OPTIR and fluorescence imaging that provides significant improvements and benefits compared to previous work by simultaneous detection of both IR absorption and confocal fluorescence using the same optical detector at the same time.

An optical underwater communication system is disclosed which includes a first transceiver and a second transceiver, each including one or more optical sources configured to provide light activated and deactivated according to a first bit stream, one or more sensor packages each comprising a plurality of photodetectors configured to receive light from the other transceiver and, in response, provide an output voltage signal and an output current signal, a detector configured to i) convert the output voltage signal and the output current signal to pulses associated with arrival of photons, and ii) count the number of pulses based on a predetermined timing sequence, an encoder configured to encode a message to be sent into a first bit stream, and a decoder configured to decode a message received into a second bit stream.

A measurement system includes an optical source (e.g., laser) to irradiate a sample (e.g., a cell); a solid-state photon detector (SSPD) to receive resultant light from the sample; and a photon counter to count photons received by the SSPD. The photon counter can include a differentiator to provide a differentiated photon signal and a crossing detector configured to count photons based on a number of times the differentiated photon signal crosses a predetermined threshold level. In some examples, a pulse detector can provide a pulse-width signal from the SSPD output photon signal, and a pulse counter can count based on both a number of pulses and widths of the pulses. The SSPD can include a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array or a solid-state photomultiplier. Some examples use the measurement system to measure samples in fluids, e.g., in flow cytometers or multi-well plates.