A method of performing spectroscopic measurements provides an optical frequency comb, and directs the comb through or at a sample. The optical frequency comb is generated by gain switching a laser diode constructed from Gallium Nitride and related materials. Various techniques are described for manipulating the comb source to achieve desired benefits for spectroscopy.

A method for operating a power management device for controlling an operating device connected to a power supply network, in which the maximum demanded and/or provided output of the controlled operating device is at least 3 kW, is disclosed. An information data set is received which describes coupling information or a temporal progression of coupling information from a server device associated with a network provider of a power supply network, the coupling information describing a relationship between a device load of the operating device and a target variable to be optimized. A load profile is determined which describes a predicted temporal progression of the device load by optimizing the load profile with respect to the target variable. The load profile is provided to the server device, and the power management device may control the operating device according to a default value which is predetermined based on the load profile.

In an endoscope system, a first actuator is configured to move a first optical member when a control signal is applied to the first actuator. A second actuator is configured to move a second optical member only when the control signal having a signal value greater than or equal to a predetermined value is applied to the second actuator. A signal source is configured to apply the control signal having the signal value greater than or equal to the predetermined value or the control signal having a signal value less than the predetermined value to the first actuator and is configured to apply the control signal having the signal value greater than or equal to the predetermined value to the second actuator.

The present invention related to surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates that are adsorbable and flexible comprises a polymeric base with detailed specific embossed structures on the surface and noble metal nanoparticles coated on the polymeric base, wherein the capillary effect is exhibited by the nanometer-sized rough features embedded in the micrometer-sized stripe patterns on the surface of the embossed polymeric base, the distances between the coated noble metal nanoparticles are between 50-200 nm to allow for sufficient number of hot spots for high Raman signal enhancement, the ridge width of the embossed stripe pattern is between 15-80 pm, and the distance between the ridges of the embossed stripe pattern is 0.04-0.14 mm.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatus for detecting atmospheric NO at signal levels capable of distinguishing the NO isotopologues. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatus for a single photon LIF sensor that pumps a vibronic transition near 215 nm and observes the resulting red shifted fluorescence from about 255 to about 267 nm. Embodiments of the present system uses a NO-LIF measurement fiber-amplified laser apparatus capable of: generating laser linewidth that is sufficiently narrow to resolve the Doppler broadened NO spectrum at room temperature and thereby achieve high signal levels and distinguish the NO isotopologues; generating laser repetition rate sufficient to enable single-photon counting of the fluorescence signal; and having size, weight and environmental robustness allowing for integration onto airborne platforms.

Systems and methods for measuring the isotope ratio of one or more gaseous oxides produced during combustion of drugs, pharmaceuticals, or medicines aiming to detect counterfeit drugs, pharmaceuticals, or medicines based on comparison of the isotopic composition of the tested drugs, pharmaceuticals, or medicines with the isotopic composition of the authentic products.

Building blocks are provided for on-chip chemical sensors and other highly-compact photonic integrated circuits combining interband or quantum cascade lasers and detectors with passive waveguides and other components integrated on a III-V or silicon. A MWIR or LWIR laser source is evanescently coupled into a passive extended or resonant-cavity waveguide that provides evanescent coupling to a sample gas (or liquid) for spectroscopic chemical sensing. In the case of an ICL, the uppermost layer of this passive waveguide has a relatively high index of refraction that enables it to form the core of the waveguide, while the ambient air, consisting of the sample gas, functions as the top cladding layer. A fraction of the propagating light beam is absorbed by the sample gas if it contains a chemical species having a fingerprint absorption feature within the spectral linewidth of the laser emission.

The present disclosure provides a detection system for detecting matter and distinguishing specific matter from other matter. The detection system comprises at least one light source arranged to emit one or more light beams having a known wavelength or wavelength range. Further, the detection system comprises at least one optical element configured to direct the one or more light beams onto a plurality of locations within an area of interest including the matter. The detection system also comprises a detector for detecting intensities of the one or more light beams reflected at the plurality of locations within the area of interest including the matter. In addition, the detection system comprises an outcome determination system. The system is arranged to obtain information indicative of at least a portion of a shape of at least some of the matter based on detected light intensities of the one or more light beams reflected at the plurality of locations. The system is also arranged to obtain information indicative of a spectral intensity distribution based on detected light intensities of the one or more light beams reflected at the plurality of locations. The outcome determination system is arranged determine whether the matter is specific matter based on the information indicative of at least a portion of a shape of at least some of the matter and based on the information indicative of a spectral intensity distribution.

An apparatus for sorting cells includes a measurement volume that contains a cell to be measured, a light source that provides light to cause an emission by a fluorescent label attached to the cell, and an optic device that directs the light through the measurement volume. The apparatus flows the cells through the measurement volume such that as the cell flows through the measurement volume, it interacts with the light, resulting in a change in light originating from the measurement volume, the change in light is a fluorescence emission. Another optic device directs a portion of the light originating from the measurement volume to a detector, which detects the portion of the light. A processor operably coupled to the detector generates an estimate of DNA quantity in the cell based on the change in light originating from the measurement volume, and determines a characteristic of the cell from the estimate.

Apparatus and methods for analyzing single molecule and performing nucleic acid sequencing. An apparatus can include an assay chip that includes multiple pixels with sample wells configured to receive a sample, which, when excited, emits emission energy; at least one element for directing the emission energy in a particular direction; and a light path along which the emission energy travels from the sample well toward a sensor. The apparatus also includes an instrument that interfaces with the assay chip. The instrument includes an excitation light source for exciting the sample in each sample well; a plurality of sensors corresponding the sample wells. Each sensor may detect emission energy from a sample in a respective sample well. The instrument includes at least one optical element that directs the emission energy from each sample well towards a respective sensor of the plurality of sensors.