Apparatus for an aerosol generating device is described. The apparatus comprises a heating circuit for heating a heating arrangement, the heating arrangement arranged to heat an aerosol generating material to thereby generate an aerosol; a temperature sensing arrangement for sensing a temperature of the device; and a controller for controlling a supply of energy to the heating circuit. The controller is configured to: determine a characteristic that is indicative that energy is being supplied to the heating circuit over a given time period, and determine a change in temperature sensed by the temperature sensing arrangement over the given time period; and take a control action if, based on the determined characteristic and the increase in temperature sensed by the temperature sensing arrangement over the given period, the controller determines that one or more predetermined criteria that are indicative of a fault with the temperature sensing arrangement are satisfied.

A method for determining the degree of polymerization of a polymer is disclosed, the polymer being contained in a sample (2), the method comprising the following steps: a) illuminating the sample (2) using a laser beam (11) and acquiring (100) a Raman spectrum (S) representative of the polymer; b) identifying (110) a peak of interest (P.sub.i) and determining (120) a position (v.sub.i) of the peak of interest in the Raman spectrum; c) on the basis of the position of the peak of interest, using a calibration function (ƒ) to determine a degree of polymerization (DP, DE) of the polymer, the calibration function expressing a variation in the position of the peak of interest as a function of the degree of polymerization of the polymer.

A method for determining the degree of polymerization of a polymer is disclosed, the polymer being contained in a sample (2), the method comprising the following steps: a) illuminating the sample (2) using a laser beam (11) and acquiring (100) a Raman spectrum (S) representative of the polymer; b) identifying (110) a peak of interest (P.sub.i) and determining (120) a position (v.sub.i) of the peak of interest in the Raman spectrum; c) on the basis of the position of the peak of interest, using a calibration function () to determine a degree of polymerization (DP, DE) of the polymer, the calibration function expressing a variation in the position of the peak of interest as a function of the degree of polymerization of the polymer.

An apparatus for an aerosol generating device may include a heating circuit to heat a heating arrangement. The heating arrangement is arranged to heat an aerosol generating material to thereby generate an aerosol. The apparatus may include a temperature sensing arrangement to sense a temperature of the device. The apparatus may include a controller to control a supply of energy to the heating circuit. The controller may determine a characteristic that is indicative that energy is being supplied to the heating circuit over a given time period, and a change in temperature sensed by the temperature sensing arrangement. The controller may take a control action if, based on the determined characteristic and the increase in temperature sensed by the temperature sensing arrangement. The controller may determine that one or more predetermined criteria that are indicative of a fault with the temperature sensing arrangement are satisfied.

Apparatus for an aerosol generating device is described. The apparatus comprises a heating circuit for heating a heating arrangement, the heating arrangement arranged to heat an aerosol generating material to thereby generate an aerosol; a temperature sensing arrangement for sensing a temperature of the device; and a controller for controlling a supply of energy to the heating circuit. The controller is configured to: determine a characteristic that is indicative that energy is being supplied to the heating circuit over a given time period, and determine a change in temperature sensed by the temperature sensing arrangement over the given time period; and take a control action if, based on the determined characteristic and the increase in temperature sensed by the temperature sensing arrangement over the given period, the controller determines that one or more predetermined criteria that are indicative of a fault with the temperature sensing arrangement are satisfied.