An apparatus and method for characterizing a target, e.g., microbial samples or biological toxins, includes labeling the target with a biomolecular recognition construct and measuring an atomic-spectra signal of the biomolecular recognition construct. The method can include heating the labeled target before measuring the atomic-spectra signal. The atomic-spectra signal can be measured by performing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy. The atomic-spectra signal can be measured by performing spark induced breakdown spectroscopy. The biomolecular recognition construct can be prepared by tagging a biological scaffolding with a metal atom or ion. In an aspect in which the target includes a microbial sample, the biological scaffolding can include an antibody against epitopes present on bacterial surface, the antibody linked to a heavy metal. In an aspect in which the target includes a biological toxin, the biological scaffolding can include an antibody against the biological toxin linked to heavy metals.

An in-situ on-line detection device and detection method for a long-distance metallurgical liquid metal component. The detection device comprises a front-end high-temperature resistant probe, a middle-end optical sensing device and a back-end control platform, wherein the head of the front-end high-temperature resistant probe is placed in a liquid metal, the tail thereof is coaxially connected to the middle-end optical sensing device, and an optical window is arranged in the connection position; and the middle-end optical sensing device is connected to the back-end control platform through a signal line. The detection device and detection method can provide a timely and valid message for quality control and a melting end, so that the detection time is greatly shortened, the detection distance can he adjusted extensively, the measurement result is accurate, and it can be achieved to measure components that are difficult to measure such as carbon, sulfur, phosphorous, etc.

A laser ablation probe comprises a tubular element adapted for conducting a carrier fluid in a substantially laminar flow. The tubular element comprises a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet arranged at opposite end portions of the tubular element for enabling the carrier fluid to flow through the tubular element. The tubular element further comprises a central portion having an aperture defined therein for admitting an aerosol generated by laser ablation from a material sample into the carrier fluid flow when this sample is positioned outside the tubular element at a distance in the range of 0 μm to 100 μm from the aperture.

A hand-held spectrometer includes at least one indicator light and a processor configured to control the at least one indicator light to indicate a state of the hand-held spectrometer selected from a group consisting of a background scanning state, a ready-to-scan-sample state, a signal strength state, a fluorescence intensity state, a sample match state, a sample classification state, an error state, a data transfer state, a battery charge state, and a memory capacity state. The sample match state can be, for example, one of a positive match state, a mixture match state, a negative match state, and a match error state. In some embodiments, the error state can be at least one of a background error state, a user error state, and an instrument error state, or any combination thereof.

Provided herein are methods for classifying or characterizing a biological sample in vivo or ex vivo in real-time using time-resolved spectroscopy and/or electrical stimulation. A biological sample may produce a responsive fluorescence signal when irradiated by a light excitation signal or pulse at a predetermined wavelength. The responsive fluorescence signal may be recorded. The intensity of the excitation wavelength may be recorded and used to normalize the recorded responsive fluorescence signal. The biological sample may produce a responsive electrical signal in response to electrical stimulation. Raw fluorescence decay data may be generated from the responsive fluorescence signal and pre-processed. The pre-processed raw fluorescence decay data may be de-convolved to remove an instrument response function therefrom and generate true fluorescence decay data. The biological sample may be characterized in response to the responsive fluorescence signal, the responsive electrical signal, the normalized responsive fluorescence signal, and/or the true fluorescence decay data.

Mechanical properties of materials fabricated with additive manufacturing process are determined through optical monitoring in real time. A plasma generated in a zone where a laser interacts with deposited material is monitored using optical emission spectroscopy to generate one or more plasma spectral lines. The emission lines are analyzed to determine the hardness, micro-hardness, yield/residual stress, tensile strength, or other mechanical characteristics of the material. The composition may be an alloy such as an aluminum-magnesium alloy, including 7000 series aluminum alloys. The mechanical property may be derived from a change in a ratio of the plasma spectral lines, including a change in a ratio of ionic and neutral magnesium (Mg) associated with a 7000 series aluminum alloy. The apparatus and methods are extendable to other alloys and compositions.

A system and method for performing laser induced breakdown spectroscopy during laser ablation of a coating, such as a TBC coating, deposited on a surface of a component, particularly to enable obtained spectrometry signals of the ablated coating to be used to monitor and control the laser ablation removal process in real-time. The system includes a laser energy source and a scan head interconnected with the laser energy source to receive a laser beam therefrom and then direct the laser beam onto the surface of the coated component. Collection optics collect radiation emitted from a laser-induced plasma generated by the laser beam at the surface of the coated component. The system is further equipped to spectrally analyze the radiation and generate a feedback signal for control and optimization of one or more operational parameters of the laser energy source in real-time.

A method for preparing a sample of organic material for laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) may include obtaining granular organic material, forming a portion of the granular organic material into a sample pellet, and searing the organic material. The searing may include searing only an exposed end surface of the sample pellet on which LIBS analysis is to be performed. The method may include pressing the seared sample pellet to consolidate the material comprising the seared end surface.

Anisotropic elastic properties and subsequently in situ stress properties for a rock formation surrounding a wellbore are computed from rock physics and geomechanical models. Mineralogy data measured from DRIFTS on cuttings from the wellbore and rock physics and geomechanical models that have been log-calibrated in another wellbore are used in the computation. The method includes: (1) Defining and calibrating rock physics and geomechanical models using data from the first wellbore; (2) using DRIFTS analysis to measure mineralogy data on rock cuttings obtained through drilling operation in the second wellbore; and (3) using previously calibrated models to estimate in situ stress properties, including a stress index and the minimum principal stress magnitude.

This invention discloses an improved laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) apparatus and method for the detection of mineral and metal contamination in liquid samples. The mineral and metal contaminant is first collected by filtering the liquid sample with a membrane filter. The membrane filter with the mineral and metal contaminant is then measured by a LIBS apparatus. The LIBS apparatus is based on a high repetition rate pulsed laser. The laser produces a train of laser pulses at a high repetition rate in the kHz (or even higher) range. When the laser beam hits the surface of the membrane filter, it generates several thousands of micro-plasma emissions per second. Synchronized miniature CCD array optical spectrometer modules collect the LIBS signal from these micro-plasma emissions. By adjusting the integration time of the spectrometer to cover a plurality of periods of the laser pulse train, the spectrometer integrates the LIBS signal produced by this plurality of laser pulses. Hence the intensity of the obtained LIBS spectrum can be greatly improved to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and lower the level of detection (LOD).