A method for enhancement of spontaneous Raman scattering (SRS) from gases comprising a multimode blue laser diode which receives feedback from a near concentric bidirectional multipass cavity in such a way as to generate a circulating power of order 100 W for a sample volume of 10 mm.sup.3. The feedback, provided via a volume Bragg grating, reduces the laser bandwidth to 4 cm.sup.−1. Spectra of spontaneous Raman scattering from ambient atmospheric air, detected collinearly with the pump, were recorded with a limit of detection below 1 part-per-million.

A method for identifying a skin abnormality including using an imaging device, the imaging device including a lighting member for directing light toward a target surface, the lighting member including a plurality of lighting elements, and a filter member positioned between the lighting member and the target surface, the filter member including a plurality of filter elements, capturing a plurality of images of the target surface, each of the plurality of images captured when illuminating a different one or more of the plurality of lighting elements, compiling the plurality of images into a data package, transmitting the data package to a server for processing the data package, and determining, at the server, a presence of an abnormality.

A method and system are disclosed for providing consistent images of leaves of plants, including articulating a lower case of a housing with respect to an upper case via an imaging chamber articulation mechanism from i) a closed state to ii) an open state, the articulable space forms an imaging chamber which is dark when the imaging chamber articulation mechanism is in the closed state, placing the leaf within the imaging chamber, articulating the imaging chamber articulation mechanism to the closed state, activating one or more light sources, actuating a linear actuator to thereby linearly move a camera from i) an initial position to ii) an end position, obtaining images from the camera, re-actuating the linear actuator to thereby linearly move the camera from the end position to the initial position, re-articulating the lower case to the open state, and removing the leaf.

A particle monitoring device includes a camera sensor for imaging particles, a set of light sources, and an optical component. A first light source provides light of a first color component. A second light source provides light of a second color component. The optical component receives light of the first color component in a first direction from the first light source, and redirects the light of the first color component in an output direction towards the particles to illuminate the particles using light of the first color component. The optical component receives light of a second color component in a second direction, different from the first direction, from the second light source, and redirects the light of the second color component in the output direction towards the particles to illuminate the particles using light of the second color component.

A system and method for assaying high and low abundant biomolecules within a biological fluid sample is provided. The method includes: a) placing a biological fluid sample in contact with a first nanostructure surface; b) interrogating the sample with a light source, the sample in contact with the first nanostructure surface, the interrogation using a SERS technique; c) detecting an enhanced Raman scattering from at least one high abundant biomolecule type and producing first signals representative thereof; d) placing the sample in contact with a second nanostructure surface having a targeting agent that targets a low abundant biomolecule; e) interrogating the sample with the light source using the SERS technique; f) detecting the enhanced Raman scattering from the low abundant biomolecules and producing second signals representative thereof; and g) assaying the biological fluid sample using the first signals and the second signals.

A spectrometer (1) comprises a light source (2), a monochromator (3) with at least one diffraction grating (4), a monochromator housing (5), an order sorting filter (7), a microplate receptacle (12) and a controller (6). The order sorting filter (7) of the spectrometer (1) comprises a substrate (23), a first optical thin film (24) and a second optical thin film (25), wherein, in a spatially partly overlapping and interference-free manner, the first optical thin film (24) is arranged on a first surface (26) and the second optical thin film (25) is arranged on a second surface (27) of the substrate (23). A spectrometer (1) equipped with a respective order sorting filter is used in a scanning method for detecting the absorption spectrum of samples examined in wells (14) of microplates (13).

A spectral imaging system comprises: a spatial encoder comprising a first light encoding device comprising a first mask for spatial encoding, the first mask being configured with one or more encoding patterns; a spectral encoder comprising: a dispersion arrangement for splitting spatially encoded light from the first light encoding device into a plurality of components; and a second light encoding device comprising a second mask for spectral encoding of the plurality of components, the second mask having one or more encoding patterns; and at least one single-pixel photodetector positioned to measure light that is encoded by the masks. The spatial encoder is operable to spatially encode light by generating a sequence of different patterns or partial patterns of the one or more encoding patterns of the first mask. The spectral encoder is operable to spectrally encode light by relative movement between the dispersion arrangement and the second mask.

Novel monolithic cyclical reflective spatial heterodyne spectrometers (CRSHS) are presented. Monolithic CRSHS in accordance with the invention have a single frame wherein a flat mirror, roof mirror, and symmetric grating are affixed. The invention contains only fixed parts; the flat mirror, roof mirror, and symmetric grating do not move in relation to the frame. Compared to conventional CRSHS known in the art, the present invention enables much smaller and lighter CRSHS, requires less time and skill for maintenance, and is a better economic option. The disclosed invention may include fixed field-widening optical elements or a fiber-fed assembly.

A method for enhancement of spontaneous Raman scattering (SRS) from gases comprising a multimode blue laser diode which receives feedback from a near concentric bidirectional multipass cavity in such a way as to generate a circulating power of order 100 W for a sample volume of 10 mm.sup.3. The feedback, provided via a volume Bragg grating, reduces the laser bandwidth to 4 cm.sup.−1. Spectra of spontaneous Raman scattering from ambient atmospheric air, detected collinearly with the pump, were recorded with a limit of detection below 1 part-per-million.

A field spectral radiometer includes a support structure and a remote sensing head disposed on the support structure. The remote sensing head includes a central axis, a first optical element disposed on a first side of the central axis and defining a first optical path for a first optical channel, and a second optical element disposed on a second side of the central axis and defining second optical path for a second optical channel. An instrumentation assembly disposed on the support structure. the instrumentation assembly includes a first detection path associated with the first optical channel and a second detection path associated with the second optical channel, the first and second detection path include optical indexers for manipulating the first and second optical channels. The field spectral radiometer may include a calibration assembly disposed on the base. The calibration assembly may include a calibrating light source for calibrating the remote sensing head.