The invention relates to a measurement apparatus for measuring the concentration of a gaseous substance. The apparatus comprises a light source, a light sensor, and a housing comprising at least one first housing member having a low thermal conductivity. A light path is formed from said light source to said light sensor, wherein the light path passes through a measurement region within said housing. The light source is configured to emit light with a spectral distribution such that said light is absorbed by said gaseous substance. Said light sensor is configured to receive the light emitted by the light source after it has passed through the measurement region. The first housing member comprises a thermal shielding region facing said measurement region on its one side and said light sensor on its other side, and is configured to permit the passage of light.

An automatic photocurrent spectrum measurement system based on a Fourier infrared spectrometer, including a light source component, an environment control component, a measuring module, and a control module. The system is configured to evaluate photoelectric performance semiconductor materials or devices under different temperatures, voltage biases or current biases.

Exemplary embodiments are directed to methods and systems for controlling fluid parameters within a detector. A first and second fluid pump manager control the flow of a first and second fluid to one or more heating/cooling devices, and a mixer receives and mixes the first and second fluids. An optical detector flow cell receives the fluid mixture from the mixer, and a pressure regulator controls the pressure at the optical detector flow cell. Thus, the composition, temperature, and pressure of a fluid mixture entering an optical detector flow cell can be controlled in real time.

Analytic sensors and methods utilize an attenuated total reflection (ATR) crystal to detect volatile compounds in an arrangement that reduces interference from compounds other than the one of interest. In particular, the components in the measurement stream are limited to those having volatilities close to that of the analyte of interest, which may be identified based on, for example, the temperature of the ATR crystal and the “dwell time”—i.e., an interval of substantially constant temperature as the ATR crystal is heated.

Provided herein are methods for processing and/or detecting a sample. A method can comprise providing a barrier between a first region and a second region, wherein the first region comprises the sample, wherein the barrier maintains the first region at a first atmosphere that is different than a second atmosphere of the second region, wherein a portion of the barrier comprises a fluid in coherent motion; and using a detector at least partially contained in the first region to detect one or more signals from the sample while the first region is maintained at the first atmosphere that is different than the second atmosphere of the second region. The portion of the barrier comprising fluid may have a pressure lower than the first atmosphere, the second atmosphere, or both.

An apparatus for analyzing optical properties of a sample includes a housing to receive a light source and a detector; a sample locus defined relative to the housing and positioned such that when a light source and a detector are in predetermined positions, the sample locus is subject to illumination by the light source and the detector is positioned to receive and detect light from the sample; a cover on the housing, the cover being movable in a hinged manner between an open position and a closed position; and a sample-receiving surface for receiving a free-standing sample in liquid or semi-solid form. When the cover is moved to the closed position it encloses the sample locus, with the sample-receiving surface being tilted away from horizontal during the closing movement and the sample being retained thereon by surface tension or adhesion and brought to the sample locus in an enclosed environment.

The invention relates to an inspection and repair module for an internal side wall of a vertically erected structure, with the module including a carrier for supporting at least one data recording mechanism and being securable to a hoist, and for an inspection and repair module for an internal wall of a conduit with the module including propulsion means comprising a set of driven tracked wheels controllable by a controller carried by the carrier and configured to provide, within a conduit, longitudinal forward and reverse motion.

Provided herein are methods for processing and/or detecting a sample. A method can comprise providing a barrier between a first region and a second region, wherein the first region comprises the sample, wherein the barrier maintains the first region at a first atmosphere that is different than a second atmosphere of the second region, wherein a portion of the barrier comprises a fluid in coherent motion; and using a detector at least partially contained in the first region to detect one or more signals from the sample while the first region is maintained at the first atmosphere that is different than the second atmosphere of the second region. The portion of the barrier comprising fluid may have a pressure lower than the first atmosphere, the second atmosphere, or both.

After a measurement-target gas has been introduced into a measurement cell (40) to a predetermined pressure, a measurement by CRDS at a predetermined wavenumber is performed using a laser source unit (1), optical switch (3), optical resonator (4) and photodetector (5). A portion of the measurement-target gas is subsequently discharged from the measurement cell (40) to lower the pressure, and a measurement at the wavenumber of an absorption peak of the target component .sup.14CO.sub.2 is performed. Since the influence of the absorption by .sup.14CO.sub.2 in the measurement at high pressure is negligible, the concentration of the background, including .sup.12CO.sub.2, can be determined from a ring-down time determined in this measurement. An absorption coefficient calculated from a ring-down time determined from measurement data acquired at low pressure contains an influence of the background, while the absorption coefficient of the background at low pressure can be determined from the concentration of the background determined at high pressure. Using this absorption coefficient, a concentration-computing operator (73) determines the absorption coefficient of only .sup.14CO.sub.2 which is free from the influence of the background, and calculates the concentration of only .sup.14CO.sub.2. Thus, based on the results of the two measurements performed at different pressures, an accurate absolute concentration of a target component, such as .sup.14CO.sub.2, can be obtained. The measurement time can be shortened as compared to a conventional case.

The sample imaging apparatus includes: a housing that forms a closed space; a transparent tray on which a sample is placed in the housing; a plane light source that is formed by using a flat light guide plate, which propagates light emitted by a light emitting element in a plane direction, so as to illuminates the sample with illumination light through the tray in the housing; a lens that is disposed in the housing so as to face the plane light source with the tray interposed between the lens and the plane light source and is used for imaging the sample; and an imaging control unit that adjusts a focal length of the lens and performs imaging in a case of imaging the single sample.