Abstract:
To increase spatial resolution by observing a sample based on saturated fluorescence components. A fluorescence microscope according to the present invention includes: a laser light source 10 emitting laser light as excitation light; an objective lens 13 focusing the laser light and applying the focused laser light to a sample 14; a detector 22 detecting fluorescence generated in the sample 14 with the laser light; and a stage 15 scanning the sample 14 while moving the sample 14 relative to the laser light, wherein the laser light is applied to the sample with varying intensities such that saturation of fluorescence occurs at the maximum intensity of the laser light, and fluorescence is detected with the detector in accordance with intensity of the laser light, and the sample is observed based on the saturation components of fluorescence.
Abstract:
A photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC) device for the in vivo detection of cells circulating in blood or lymphatic vessels is described. Ultrasound transducers attached to the skin of an organism detect the photoacoustic ultrasound waves emitted by target objects in response to their illumination by at least one pulse of laser energy delivered using at least one wavelength. The wavelengths of the laser light pulse may be varied to optimize the absorption of the laser energy by the target object. Target objects detected by the device may be unlabelled biological cells or cell products, contrast agents, or biological cells labeled with one or more contrast agents.
Abstract:
A laser beam machining apparatus including a chuck table for holding a wafer, and a laser beam irradiation unit for irradiating the wafer held on the chuck table with a pulsed laser beam. The laser beam machining apparatus further includes a plasma detecting part which includes a plasma receiving part for receiving a plasma generated by irradiation of the work with the laser beam radiated from the laser beam irradiation unit, and a spectrum analyzing part for analyzing the spectrum of the plasma received by the plasma receiving part; and a controller for determining the material of the work on the basis of a spectrum analysis signal from the spectrum analyzing part of the plasma detecting part and for controlling the laser beam irradiation unit.
Abstract:
To achieve an apparatus capable of measuring a light absorption coefficient f a sample with high sensitivity. A ring down spectroscope uses a wavelength-variable femtosecond soliton pulse light source 1. Pulse light is input to a loop optical fiber 6 through a first light waveguide 4 and a wavelength selective switch 5. Ring down pulse light is input to a homodyne detector through the wavelength selective switch 5. On the other hand, pulse light propagating in the first light waveguide 4 is split and input to light waveguides constituting a second light waveguide 20 through an optical directional coupler 8 and a first optical switching element 12. The pulse light propagating in the second light waveguide 20 is input to the homodyne detector as reference light and used for synchronous detection. The plural light waveguides constituting the second light waveguide 20 differ in optical length in accordance with the length of the optical fiber 6, and can slightly change the optical length.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for measuring a substance in formations surrounding an earth borehole being drilled with a drill bit at the end of a drill string, using drilling fluid that flows downward through the drill string, exits through the drill bit entrained with drilled earth formation cuttings, and returns toward the earth's surface in the annulus between the drill string and the borehole, the method including the following steps: waiting for any of the substance that is dissolved in the drilling fluid to be substantially in equilibrium with any of the substance in the earth formation cuttings; and then measuring, downhole, the substance dissolved in the drilling fluid.
Abstract:
A detachably coupled image intensifier and image sensor combination is disclosed along with systems and methods for using the detachably coupled image intensifier and image sensor combination. In one embodiment, there are at least two fiber optic plates aligned between the image intensifier and image sensor, and an oil or a gel is used to fill some or all of the gap(s) between pair(s) of adjacent fiber optic plates. In one embodiment, the detachably coupled image intensifier and image sensor combination is used for sample inspection.
Abstract:
A thermoacoustic tomographic method for imaging an object, wherein the object is thermally excited by a source and the acoustic waves from the object, which are caused by the thermal excitation, from different directions of the object are detected using at least one detector and an image of the object is reconstructed from the detected acoustic waves and the positional information, wherein the acoustic waves detected by the detector are integrated at least in one direction over a length of at least √{square root over (8)}·d, where d denotes the maximum distance from a point of the object to be imaged to the detector.
Abstract:
A method for improving the accuracy of estimating concentration path length of a target molecule using a differential absorption LIDAR (DIAL) system. In particular, this method allows improved detection of plumes containing the target molecule against inhomogeneous background, such as uncovered ground or ground with various types of cover. In an embodiment of the present invention, spectral surface reflectivity variations are systematically corrected based on interpolation of surface reflectivity measurements of multiple offline beams of different wavelengths, which are relatively close to the online wavelength. In another embodiment, the signal to noise ratio of the received online pulse energy is improved by using multiple laser beams having the online wavelength and the signal to noise ratio of the received pulse energies at an offline wavelength is improved by using multiple laser beams having that offline wavelength.
Abstract:
An optical fiber for use in fiber optic sensing of a test sample includes a first core and a second core. The second core is generally coaxially disposed within the first core and is sized smaller than the first core. The second core is capable of delivering pulsed laser energy from the laser for nonlinear optical excitation of the test sample. Nonlinear optical feedback signals can then be collected in both the first core and second core for improved detection efficiency relative to conventional single-mode and multi-mode fibers.