PUBLICATIONS
Patents
Improved scanning optical microscope
US20210011266A1Publication Date 14 Jan 2021
ABSTRACT An optical scanning microscope includes an illumination system (160) and an objective lens (134) operable together to provide the excitation radiation (152, 154) in a focal volume (124) at sufficient intensity to cause emission of emission radiation from a sample in the focal volume. The objective lens (134) is scanned by an objective scanner (130, 132). In this example an x-y transducer (xyXD) (130) is connected to a kinematic flexure mechanism (132) which acts as a scanning lens mount. The kinematic flexure mechanism is operable to scan the objective in two dimensions transverse with respect to the objective's optical axis so as to scan the emitting focal volume in corresponding dimensions. The kinematic flexure mechanism may be a unitary 3D-printed member.
Maturation apparatus and methods
US 20140160465PCT/GB2012/051621
CA2841215A1
EP2732019A1
WO2013008003A1
Publication Date 12 Jun 2014
ABSTRACT
The invention provides an apparatus and a method that reduces fluid loss from a cask during a maturation process by sealably enclosing the cask in a vessel that provides an expansion volume to receive fluid vapour from the cask, a monitoring system and a method that monitors fluid loss from a cask during a maturation process using a light source and a detector to determine the presence of fluid vapour in the vicinity of the cask, a corresponding system for controlling a maturation process in which environmental conditions are controlled, and a cask leak testing system and method making use of the above.
Beam Profiler
PCT/GB2013/052991WO 2014076473
Publication Date 22 May 2014
ABSTRACT
An M2 value beam profiling apparatus and method is described. The M2 value beam profiler comprises an optical axis defined by a focussing lens assembly and a detector, wherein the focussing lens acts to create an artificial waist within an optical field propagating along the optical axis. The beam profiler also comprises a multiple blade assembly having a first set of blades located at an artificial waist position and a second set of blades longitudinally separated along the optical axis from the artificial waist position. The multiple blade assembly therefore provides a means for selectively passing the blades through the location of the optical axis. Employing these measured widths allows for the M2 value of the optical field to be determined.
Long wavelength infra-red detection and imaging with long wavelength infra-red source
PCT/GB2013/052279WO 2014033465
Publication Date 6 Mar 2014
ABSTRACT
An infrared detection system comprises the following elements. A laser source provides radiation for illuminating a target (5). This radiation is tuned to at least one wavelength in the fingerprint region of the infrared spectrum. A detector (32) detects radiation backscattered from the target (5). An analyser determines from at least the presence or absence of detected signal in said at least one wavelength whether a predetermined volatile compound is present. An associated detection method is also provided. In embodiments, the laser source is tunable over a plurality of wavelengths, and the detector comprises a hyperspectral imaging system. The laser source may be an optical parametric device has a laser gain medium for generating a pump beam in a pump laser cavity, a pump laser source and a nonlinear medium comprising a ZnGeP2 (ZGP) crystal. On stimulation by the pump beam, the ZnGeP2 (ZGP) crystal is adapted to generate a signal beam having a wavelength in a fingerprint region of the spectrum and an idler beam having a wavelength in the mid- infrared region of the spectrum. The laser gain medium and the ZnGeP2 (ZGP) crystal are located in the pump wave cavity.
Scientific Papers
Broadly Tunable Intracavity Zinc Germanium Phosphate Optical Parametric Oscillator For Hyper-spectral Imaging'. Optical Engineering. Vol 53. Issue 6 (2014).'Mid-wave infrared hyperspectral imaging of unknown chemical warfare agents'. Clewes, Howle, Guicheteau, Emge, Ruxton, Robertson, Miller, Malcolm and Maker. Proc. SPIE8710, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XIV, 871002 (May 29, 2013)
'Stand-off spectroscopy for the detection of chemical warfare agents'. Clewes, Howle, Stothard, Dunn, Robertson, Miller, Malcolm, Maker, Cox, Williams, Russell. Proc SPIE8546, Optics and Photonics for Counter-terrorism, Crime Fighting and Defence VIII, 85460X (October 30, 2012)
'Two-photon fluorescence microscopy with a diode-pumped Cr:LiSAF laser' Robertson, Armstrong, Dymott, Ferguson and Hogg. Applied Optics Vol 36, p2481 (1997).
'All-solid-state ultrafast lasers facilitate multiphoton excitation fluorescence imaging'. Wokosin, Centonze, White, Armstrong, Robertson, Ferguson. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics. Vol 2, p1051, (1996).
'Continuous-wave singly resonant pump-enhanced type II LiB3O5 optical parametric oscillator' Gordon Robertson, Miles J. Padgett and Malcolm Dunn. Opt. Lett. 19, 1, (1994).
'Comparison of lithium triborate and b-barium borate as nonlinear media for optical parametric oscillators'. D.E. Withers, G. Robertson, A. J. Henderson, Y. Tang, Y. Cui, W. Sibbett, B. D. Sinclair and M. H. Dunn. J. Opt. Soc Am. B, 10, 1737, (1993).
'Excimer pumped deuterated L-arginine phosphate optical parametric oscillator', Gordon Robertson, and Malcolm H. Dunn. Appl. Phys. Lett. 62, 3405, (1993).
'Efficient, single axial mode oscillation of a beta barium borate optical parametric oscillator pumped by an excimer laser'. Gordon Robertson, Angus Henderson and Malcolm H. Dunn. Appl. Phys. Lett. 62, 123 (1993).
'Broadly tunable LiB3O5 optical parametric oscillator’. Gordon Robertson, Angus Henderson and Malcolm H. Dunn. Appl. Phys. Lett. 60, 271 (1992).
Attainment of high efficiencies in optical parametric oscillators. G. Robertson, A. Henderson and M. Dunn. Opt. Lett. 16, 1584 (1991).
Efficient ultraviolet LiB3O5 optical parametric oscillator. M. Ebrahemzadeh, G. Robertson and M. H. Dunn. Opt. Lett. 16, 767 (1991).