Abstract:
A device for the spectral dispersion of light suitable for use in a spectrographic mode with arrays of solid state photo-detectors. Light from an entrance aperture passes through a dispersing prism with two curved, refracting surfaces both operating near their aplanatic conjugates. After being reflected by a concave mirror located behind the prism, light returns through the prism in the opposite direction, the refractions at each face again being nearly aplanatic. Spectrally dispersed images of the entrance aperture are formed on a plane well separated from the entrance aperture and nearly normal to the incident light rays. Good image quality is maintained over a broad range of operating wavelengths simultaneously, allowing large spectral intervals to be surveyed without moving any of the elements of the system.
Abstract:
In a wavelength dispersion electrophoresis apparatus which detects fluorescences of unequal wavelengths emitted from the samples of DNA, RNA or the like labeled with a plurality of fluorophores, a direct-vision prism (14) is interposed between a two-dimensional fluorescence detector (7) and an electrophoretic plate (17) in order to separate and discriminate the emission wavelengths of the respective fluorophores. The direct-vision prism (14) is disposed for the wavelength dispersion of the fluorescences in this manner, whereby the fluorescences of the individual wavelengths can be separated and detected at a high sensitivity by a simple mechanism and without distorting a fluorescence image.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out spectral analysis which is provided with diffraction grating means (1-6, 12-15) for dispersing the incident radiation (3). In order to achieve a high spectral resolution in an economically advantageous manner, the diffraction grating means comprises a plurality of grating surfaces (1-6, 12-15) which are arranged so that the radiation (3), after diffraction from the first grating surface (1, 12), is subject to diffraction also in the other grating surfaces (2-6, 13-15). The grating surfaces hereby have such an orientation that the wavelength dispersion at diffraction from one grating surface acts to increase the wavelength dispersion at diffraction from the following grating surfaces.
Abstract:
A dispersive prism arrangement comprises a pair of identical triangular prisms each of which is mounted on a platform. The two platforms are rotatably mounted on a common shaft which slides in a groove and each platform is also mounted on a respective shaft which slides in a respective groove. These two further shafts are biased outwardly by springs. The two prisms are symmetrically disposed about the common shaft. Equal but opposite rotation may be imparted to the two prisms by rotating a knob which drives the common shaft.A multiwavelength input beam incident on the first face of the first prism is refracted at this face, reflected at the second and third faces, emerges after refraction at the second face, and makes a symmetrical passage through the second prism. The prisms may be rotated so that each component of the beam emerges from the second prism without offset or deviation relate to the input beam.
Abstract:
A multi-spectral detection system and method for detecting radiation from a single target within frequency bands that are in diverse portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The system includes common radiant energy collection elements for collecting radiant energy of different width wavelength bands from a single target feature in the diverse portions of the electromagnetic spectrum and focusing the collected energy to a common focal point; a waveguide positioned at the focal point for transferring the collected radiant energy away from the focal point; an imaging system for dispersing the transferred energy into separate beams having spectral regions respectively corresponding to the diverse portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, with the beams being of uniform cross sectional dimension notwithstanding said different widths, and for focusing the separate beams to a common plane for detection by separately positioned detectors; and separate detectors of uniform cross-sectional area positioned for respectively detecting the separate beams and adapted for respectively detecting energy in the separate spectral regions of the separate beams. Various imaging systems including focusing prisms and focusing grating systems are disclosed.
Abstract:
A scanner having an instantaneous narrow field of view determines spectral and positional information of a point source of optical radiation in a relatively wide field of view. A first optical path includes the scanning means, a dispersion means, and a first detector means so that different wavelengths of the source are convoluted to impinge on the first detector means at different times during a scan of the field of view. A second optical path includes the scanning means, the second detector means, and a narrow bandpass filter for enabling approximately monochromatic energy of the source to impinge on a second detector means displaced from the first detector means. Thereby, a predetermined wavelength is imaged on the second detector means at a time during a scan that differs from the time when that wavelength is imaged on the first detector means, even though the source angular position in the field of view is substantially the same for both of the optical paths. To enable the system to be responsive only to point sources, to the exclusion of nonpoint sources, each of the first and second detector means is divided into a multiplicity of separate, spaced detector elements. Each of the detector elements has a length in the direction of scan no greater than the length of the point source imaged on the first and second detector means. In response to the amplitude of energy impinging on the elements of the second detector means, a signal replica of the convoluted spectral energy impinging on one of the elements of the first detector means is coupled to a signal processing network that recognizes point sources having a predetermined spectral signature and enables the position of the recognized sources to be determined.