A temporal spectral photometer for use in obtaining spectral and temporal information simultaneously of an ultrafast pulse of luminescent light emitted from a sample upon excitation thereof includes an excitation section and a detection section. The excitation section includes a picosecond laser for exciting the sample to emit luminescent light and imaging optics for imaging the emitted light. The detection section includes a pin hole slit through which light from the imaging optics is admitted, a streak camera tube, an optical system including a grating for forming an image of the pin hole slit on the photocathode of the streak camera tube and at the same time dispersing the light admitted through the pin hole slit into its component wavelengths, a micrometer assembly mechanically coupled to the grating for selectively changing the wavelength region of dispersed light impinging on the photocathode, a video camera, a camera lens system for imaging the output image formed on the phosphor screen of the streak camera tube onto the input end of the video camera, a digital temporal analyzer coupled to the output of the video camera for digitizing and analyzing image information from the video camera and a video monitor coupled to the output of the temporal analyzer for displaying the analyzed data.
System and method for simultaneously providing a wavelength spectral distribution and a temporal distribution of an incident light beam. The light beam is received at a wavelength spectral distribution module and is separated into light beam segments corresponding to at least two different wavelengths in a first selected direction transverse to beam propagation direction. The light beam is also received at a temporal distribution module, and segments of the light beam are distributed corresponding to at least two different times at which light in the beam was produced, in a second selected direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The temporal distribution module may include a rotating segmented mirror.
A spectroscopic microscope includes a laser or other light source which emits light from the entrance aperture of its spectrograph, and also includes a light sensor situated on the microscope sample stage upon which a specimen is to be situated for microscopic/spectrometric analysis. The sample stage is positioned such that the signal from the light sensor is maximized, thereby indicating good alignment between the sample stage and spectrograph. Additionally, the microscope sample stage bears a light source which can emit light to be detected by a light sensor situated at the vantage point of a user/viewer utilizing the microscope, and such a light sensor can simply take the form of a video camera or other image recordation unit associated with the microscope. The sample stage can also be positioned to optimize the signal at the light sensor to signify good alignment between the sample stage and the microscope.
A high spatial and time resolution measuring apparatus for optically measuring a fine area in an object to be measured, the apparatus comprising a stage for mounting a specimen thereon, a light source for generating a first light, a first optical system for leading the first light from the light source to the specimen, an objective lens for magnifying an image of a second light from the specimen, a second optical system for imaging a part of the image in a form of a slit, a streak tube having a photocathode at a position of image formation of the second optical system for receiving the part of the image and forming a streak image thereof, a housing for shielding the first optical system, the objective lens and the second optical system from stray light.
Biological material is characterized by illuminating the material with a beam of light, measuring light scattered from the material and then determining the condition of the material using the measurements. In one embodiment the angular line shape of the backscattered light is measured and then used to determine the scattering mean free path (1) and the absorption length (la) of the light scattered in the material to find out the condition of the material. These values so obtained are compared to values for a material whose condition is normal to determine if the condition of the material being examined is abnormal or normal. In another embodiment the temporal profile of the scattered pulse is used to determine (1) and (1a). The apparatus includes a laser for illuminating a section of material to be characterized, a streak camera for detecting light scattered from the material, a video camera for imaging the output of the streak camera, a computer for processing the output of the video camera to determine (1) and (1a) and a monitor for displaying the results to determine if the condition of the material being examined is normal or abnormal.
In order to determine the external profile of a diamond, particularly a large diamond which has re-entrant features, an elongate and thin beam is projected onto the diamond while the diamond is rotated about an axis normal to the beam; an imaging system is used to image from one side the line along which the beam strikes the diamond, this image being formed on a diffraction grating which is tilted in accordance with the Scheimpflug condition and in order to employ the first order beam of the diffraction grating. The image on the diffraction grating is viewed with a second imaging system. Furthermore, there may be a substantial improvement in light capture. The arrangement is applicable to systems other than those for determining profile.
