Cells Selectively Captured by Phages and Identified by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Technique.

In this work, the results on the detection and identification of () cells by using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are presented. has been chosen as a harmless surrogate of the pathogen () responsible for the deadly Anthrax disease, because of their genetic similarities. Drops of 200 μL of suspensions, with concentrations 10 CFU/mL, 10 CFU/mL, 10 CFU/mL, were deposited on a SERS chip and sampled after water evaporation.

Forensic Analysis of Commercial Inks by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS).

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was tested for all of the relevant issues in forensic examinations of commercial inks, including classification of pen inks on one paper type and on different paper types, determination of the deposition order of layered inks, and analysis of signatures and toners on one questioned document. The scope of this work was to determine the potential of a single LIBS setup that is compatible with portable instruments for different types of ink analysis, rather than building a very large database for inks and papers. We identified up to seven metals characteristic for the examined inks, which allowed to fully discriminate all eight black inks on one type of printing paper.

Integrated Laser Sensor (ILS) for Remote Surface Analysis: Application for Detecting Explosives in Fingerprints.

Here, we describe an innovative Integrated Laser Sensor (ILS) that combines four spectroscopic techniques and two vision systems into a unique, transportable device. The instrument performs Raman and Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy excited at 355 nm and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) excited at 1064 nm, and it also detects Laser Scattering (LS) from the target under illumination at 650 nm. The combination of these techniques supplies information about: material change from one scanning point to another, the presence of surface contaminants, and the molecular and elemental composition of top target layers.

Sample Preparation for Repeated Measurements on a Single Liquid Droplet Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.

We studied changes in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) signal intensity with the thickness of a liquid layer placed on a solid substrate, where an easily evaporating methanol sample was used. For a certain optimal liquid film thickness we obtained a manifold increase of the LIBS signal from methanol. Progressive liquid film thinning leads to a reduction and a successive disappearance of laser-induced splashes; the latter condition drastically reduces the sample consumption and allows measurements to be repeated many times on a single liquid droplet.

Proximal Detection of Traces of Energetic Materials with an Eye-Safe UV Raman Prototype Developed for Civil Applications.

A new Raman-based apparatus for proximal detection of energetic materials on people, was developed and tested for the first time. All the optical and optoelectronics components of the apparatus, as well as their optical matching, were carefully chosen and designed to respect international eye-safety regulations. In this way, the apparatus is suitable for civil applications on people in public areas such as airports and metro or railway stations.

A new eye-safe UV Raman spectrometer for the remote detection of energetic materials in fingerprint concentrations: Characterization by PCA and ROC analyzes.

We report the results of proximal Raman investigations at a distance of 7 m, to detect traces of explosives (from 0.1 to 0.8 mg/cm(2)) on common clothes with a new eye-safe apparatus.

Measurement of Mount Etna plume by CO2-laser-based lidar.

The CO2 laser-based agile tuner lidar for atmospheric sensing has been used to profile the volcanic plume of Mount Etna during its most recent eruption. Owing to the transmitted wavelength, this system is practically insensitive to air molecules while it detects aerosol loads, and thus the path attenuation of the laser beam is strongly affected by volcanic particulate. Vertical profiles of extinction coefficient were retrieved up to an altitude above ground level of 5000 m.

Scanning flow cytometer modified to distinguish phytoplankton cells from their effective size, effective refractive index, depolarization, and fluorescence.

A laser flow cytometer based on scanning flow cytometry has been assembled. The unpolarized and linearly polarized light-scattering profiles, as well as the side emitted light in different spectral bands, were measured, allowing the simultaneous and real-time determination of the effective size and the effective refractive index of each spherelike particle. Additionally, each particle could be identified from depolarization and fluorescence measured simultaneously.