Along with a point detector and rapidly scanning optics, the imaging method — powered by a quantum cascade laser — can obtain the IR spectrum of a microparticle and identify it.DARREN ROBEY, AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES INC.Contamination of soil, air, and drinking water by microplastics is a growing focus of attention around the world. Environmental agencies are increasing the monitoring of waterways, and governmental bodies are seeking to protect these resources. Simultaneously, research institutions are trying to determine the extent and potential toxicological impacts of microplastic contamination. Optical technologies are playing a vital role in these studies. Microplastic pollution has become a worldwide dilemma. Courtesy of Agilent. Despite the enormous interest, the use of various analytical...Read full articleRelated content from Photonics MediaARTICLESTwo Photonics-Related Projects Identify, Filter Out MicroplasticsTwo research projects with majority funding from the German Ministry of Education and Research seek to use photonics to address the issue of microplastics. The SimConDrill project will see Fraunhofer...Photonics Spectra June 2022 IssueSpectroscopy Becomes a Potent Part of Pharmaceutical ProductionFallout from the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to ripple across all sectors, and the photonics industry is no exception. But while the virus has raised challenges for many businesses, it has created...Photonics Spectra March 2021 IssueReusable Sensor Deploys Nanopatch Antenna for DiagnosisA tiny, reusable sensing chip developed by University of Buffalo researchers could lead to new point-of-care medical tests. The sensor uses surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopy,...Photonics Spectra April 2022 IssueBroadband MIR Source Facilitates Fiber Optic SensorsA collaborative research project has demonstrated a broadband mid-infrared (MIR) source designed to facilitate a simplified environmental monitoring system with potential value in industrial and...Photonics Spectra June 2021 IssuePRODUCTSWITec ParticleScout™ Enhanced for 2021WITec’s ParticleScout is an analytical tool for the alpha300 Raman microscope series that finds, classifies and identifies microparticles over large sample areas. It automatically detects and...Promoted Content May 2021 IssueChromacity Near-IR OPOThe Chromacity Near-IR OPO is one of the most affordable picosecond lasers on the market, delivering high average power across the 1.4 µm – 4 µm region, without compromise on...Promoted Content January 2021 IssuePulsed MIR Laser Spectrum AnalyzerThe 772B-MIR Laser Spectrum Analyzer from Bristol Instruments combines proven Michelson interferometer technology with fast Fourier transform analysis to characterize the spectral properties of...Promoted Content September 2020 IssueSpotlight™ IR Microscope and Imaging SystemsDesigned for intelligent automation and sophisticated analysis capabilities. It incorporates a number of unique productivity tools and features an ATR imaging system that enables the collection of...Promoted Content April 2021 IssuePHOTONICS HANDBOOK ARTICLESQCL Primer: History, Characteristics, Applications: The versatility of quantum cascade lasers make them a good choice for the mid-infrared region.Since its first successful operation in 1960 at Hughes Research Labs, the laser technology has been at the center of innovation and research. Semiconductor lasers first made their appearance in 1962...Photonics HandbookAdaptive Optics: Taming Atmospheric Turbulence: For more than three centuries, the Earth’s atmosphere has frustrated astronomers. The layer of gases that we breathe also distorts the images formed by telescopes. This means that conventional telescopes of more than a few centimeters in diameter cannot reach the resolution limit set by their optics.To Isaac Newton the problem was clear, and in 1704 he realized the effects of atmospheric turbulence on image formation. Just as heat waves shimmering above a hot patch of ground can distort our...Photonics HandbookLaser Beam Measurement: Slit-Based Profilers for Pulsed Beams: Although slit-based profilers were designed to measure continuous-wave (CW) lasers, they can also work for pulsed-mode lasers.Measuring pulsed-beam lasers has generally required the use of a CCD array profiler. This is a reasonable solution for low-power lasers in the UV and visible wavelength range, but these require...Photonics HandbookOptical Delay Lines: Key to Time-Resolved Measurements: To obtain an accurate means of creating reliable delays in any time-resolved spectroscopy or dynamic experiment, several factors about the delay line stage must be considered to reduce or eliminate errors associated with linear stages.One of the most critical elements of any time-resolved spectroscopy and dynamics experiment is the optical delay line. A typical optical delay line consists of a retroreflector or folding mirrors on...Photonics HandbookWHITEPAPERSCharacterization of Advanced Semiconductor Materials and Processes with Nanoscale IR SpectroscopyThis application note demonstrates the successful application of Tapping AFM-IR to distinguish the chemical footprints of several nanoscale lithographic patterns consisting of complex molecular...Photonics.com 3/31/2021An Advanced Laser Technology - Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting LaserVIGO’s VCSEL device has been developed to successfully demonstrate the capability to meet the increasing demand of our customers for disruptive epi-wafer technology.Photonics.com 11/1/2021PDH Technique with Moku:Lab’s Laser Lock Box — An FPGA-based all-in-one Solution for Laser Frequency LockingThe Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) technique was first introduced by R.V. Pound, Ronald Drever, and John L. Hall in 1983. It is a widely used method to match the emitting optical frequency of a laser to a...Photonics.com 11/10/2020Specialty Fiber Preforms for Industrial ApplicationsEnabling new laser applications with fused silica fibers.Photonics.com 5/4/2022WEBINARSFourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectrometer: Theory, Practice, and ApplicationsFourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a spectroscopic technique that relies on optical interference to generate a spectrum. It enables spectral analysis covering a wide range, 1100 to...Photonics.com 2/10/2021Quantum Cascade Lasers: Theory and Applied Use for Gas MonitoringThe birth of lasers was a scientific revolution that changed the world as we know it. Lasers are critical in areas such as lidar/automated driving, surgical instruments, heat treatment, and...Photonics.com 1/19/2021Photonics Spectra Conference 2022: January 10 - 13Photonics Media will host its second annual Photonics Spectra Conference Jan. 10-13. The virtual event will comprise four technology tracks — Lasers, Optics, Sensors and Detectors, and Imaging...Photonics.com 1/10/2022The Future of Lasers: Two PerspectivesThe Future of Lasers: Two Perspectives brings together two expert viewpoints on the future of quantum cascade lasers, fiber lasers and next-generation solid-state lasers. Our Expert Panel: ...Photonics.com 6/21/2011PHOTONICS DICTIONARY TERMSquantum cascade laserA Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) is a type of semiconductor laser that emits light in the mid- to far-infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Quantum cascade lasers offer many benefits: They...EDU.photonics.com 6/25/2019distributed feedback (DFB) laserA laser system in which feedback is used to make certain modes in the resonator oscillate more strongly than others. In semiconductor lasers, a periodic corrugation in the active layer replaces the...EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009laserA device which operates under the processes of absorption and stimulated emission and by the condition that gain exceeds loss in order to sustain amplification. The term laser is the acronym for...EDU.photonics.com 6/25/2019Fabry-Perot laserA laser oscillator in which two mirrors are separated by an amplifying medium with an inverted population, making a Fabry-Perot cavity. Standard diode lasers are Fabry-Perot lasers.EDU.photonics.com 9/8/2009MEDIAEdinburgh Instruments Product RangeEdinburgh Instruments is a world-leader in both single photon counting and time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) based fluorescence spectrometers. Our product range includes: FLS1000...Photonics.com 6/19/2019Mid-Wave IR Liquid Crystals and more from MeadowlarkMeadowlark Optics' founder Tom Baur and Optical Engineer Erika Petrak giving a quick overview of the latest and greatest MWIR products and mentioning some LC filters too. www.meadowlark.comPhotonics.com 10/2/2013Optical Communcations & MIR Pulses - LIGHT MATTERS 11.19.2014On this week’s show, we share another interview in our EDU Spotlight series, and Laura Marshall reports on Neuroscience 2014. But first, we look at how spatially modulated beams of light were used to...Photonics.com 11/19/2014Explorations of the Quantum Cascade Laser — with Jerome FaistJerome Faist, co-inventor of the quantum cascade laser (QCL), reflects on nearly 30 years’ worth of innovations in semiconductor lasing and the history of the QCL. Faist discusses applications in the...Photonics.com 1/3/2022PHOTONICS BUYERS' GUIDE CATEGORIESKrypton-Ion LasersLaser MirrorsLaser OpticsVertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs)COMPANIESFOCtek Photonics Inc.FOCtek provides customers with all types of custom manufactured lenses, Precision Optical Components, Polarizing Optics, Prisms, Filters, Coatings, Optical Systems, Crystals, Nonlinear Crystals,...Photonics Buyers' GuideLaCroix Precision OpticsOptics that Defend, Build, Cure and Discover The LaCroix name is synonymous with quality precision optics. Since 1947, three generations of family leadership have placed LaCroix Precision Optics...Photonics Buyers' GuideShanghai Optics Inc.Shanghai Optics is a leading manufacturer of advanced optical components and optical assemblies. Shanghai Optics is an unparalleled custom optical solution provider offering custom optical design and...Photonics Buyers' GuideKnight OpticalWe are a trusted leading global figure in the production and distribution of scientific, stock and custom precision optics with over 30 years’ experience providing optical solutions for a huge...Photonics Buyers' Guide