Systems, methods, and modules for detecting a biomarker in a sample are described. A system for detecting presence or absence of a biomarker in a sample includes: a light source for producing electromagnetic radiation for interrogating the sample; a biosensor module including: a waveguide for guiding the electromagnetic radiation, the waveguide exposed to the sample; and a recognition element affixed to the waveguide and configured to bind to the biomarker; a detector for receiving the electromagnetic radiation from the waveguide and detecting a signal corresponding to an interaction of the electromagnetic radiation with the biomarker bound to the recognition element, in accordance with at least one detection modality; and a computing device for analyzing data related to the signal in order to detect presence or absence of the biomarker in the sample.

A colorimetric sensor for detecting an analyte of interest in a fluid sample includes a lamellar photonic material having alternating layers of a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer. Each first polymer layer can be a molecularly imprinted polymer defining a cavity shaped to receive an analyte of interest. The photonic material is configured such that, when an analyte contacts the photonic material and becomes disposed within a cavity of the molecularly imprinted polymer, a refractive property of the photonic material changes, causing a detectable color change in the sensor.

A sensor device for use in sensing a change in a concentration of micro-organisms, comprises a waveguide interferometer having a sensing arm and a reference arm, a microfluidic channel for a fluid containing the micro-organisms, and a trapping arrangement in the microfluidic channel for physically trapping the micro-organisms when the fluid flows along the microfluidic channel so as to concentrate the micro-organisms in a sensing region of the microfluidic channel. The sensing arm is configured to guide sensing light, the reference arm is configured to guide reference light, and the waveguide interferometer is configured to interfere the sensing light with the reference light. The waveguide interferometer and the microfluidic channel are configured to allow the sensing light to interact with the fluid and the micro-organisms in the sensing region of the microfluidic channel.

A passive-phase-detection photothermal spectroscopy (PTS) system and methods are provided for gas measurements. The PTS system includes a pump laser source, a probe laser source, the pump and probe laser beams simultaneously propagating through an optical waveguide having a target gas specimen. Moreover, the PTS system can be based on a heterodyne detection scheme and includes a combiner configured to align light input from a local oscillator with the probe laser beam output from the optical waveguide to output to a photodetector that is configured to generate beat notes. A demodulation module is configured to detect and measure a photothermal signal based on the beat notes received from the photodetector for gas measurements. The PTS system can also be based on a core-cladding-mode interference detection scheme and generates the core mode and cladding mode simultaneously for the probe laser in the waveguide.

The device for detecting and/or determining the concentration of an analyte present in a tissue includes a sensor which is an optical fibre interferometer, and one interferometer arm being coated with an immobilised binding agent enabling selective binding of the analyte. The interferometer arm is mounted inside a guide enabling puncturing the tissue and performing an in situ measurement without the necessity to collect or prepare a sample. The guide is provided with a closed guide face, longitudinal perforations on sidewalls enabling the analyte to reach the binding agent, and an opening in the input end of the guide for introducing the interferometer with the arm into the guide. At the input end, the opening is sealed, enabling the isolation of the interior of the guide from the surroundings. The interferometer is mounted in a position in which the interferometer does not touch the inside walls of the guide.

A Fourier spectrophotometer includes: a light source; an interferometer configured to obtain first and second interferograms whose intensity distributions are inverted from each other from the light emitted from light source; a multiplexing optical system configured to multiplex the first and second interferograms to irradiate the sample with a resultant interferogram; a demultiplexing optical system configured to demultiplex the first and second interferograms contained in the light passing through the sample; a light receiver configured to output a first light reception signal obtained by receiving the demultiplexed first interferogram and a second light reception signal obtained by receiving the demultiplexed second interferogram; and a signal processing device configured to perform processing for obtaining a noise-removed spectrum of the wavelength component in the analysis wavelength band by using the first and second light reception signals.

A sensor (10) comprises a waveguide (20) having a longitudinal axis and an end face (21), the waveguide (20) comprising a Bragg grating (23). The sensor comprises at least one reflector (24) on the end face (21) of the waveguide (20). An optical resonator (25) is formed by the Bragg grating (23), the at least one reflector (24), and an inner portion of the optical resonator (25) between the Bragg grating (23) and the at least one reflector (24). The inner portion of the optical resonator (25) extends within a portion of the waveguide (20). The sensor (10) comprises a detector (32) configured to detect at least one spectral characteristic of the optical resonator (25) or a change of at least one spectral characteristic of the optical resonator (25).

A mask characterization method comprises measuring an interference signal of a reflection or transmission mask for use in lithography; and determining a quality metric for the reflection or transmission mask based on the interference signal. A mask characterization apparatus comprises a light source arranged to illuminate a reflective or transmissive mask with light whereby mask-reflected or mask-transmitted light is generated; an optical grating arranged to convert the mask-reflected or mask-transmitted light into an interference pattern; and an optical detector array arranged to generate an interference signal by measuring the interference pattern.

An interferometric system is provided that includes detects, authenticates and quantifies analytes such as taggants. Methods of using such systems as part of an authentication and material tracking processes are also provided.

Methods, apparatuses, and systems associated with a sample testing device are provided.