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Broad band intra-cavity total reflection chemical sensor

  • US 5,835,231 A
  • Filed: 10/31/1997
  • Issued: 11/10/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An intra-cavity total reflection apparatus for high sensitivity measurement of the optical absorption of a test material, said apparatus comprising:

  • injecting means for producing light for a predetermined length of time;

    a closed stable optical cavity, comprising an internal total reflecting surface, for receiving said light within said cavity and for providing total internal reflection of said light at said internal surface so as to generate a plurality of evanescent waves which escape from said cavity at spaced points and which decay within a length outside of said cavity beyond said surface, said test material being disposed outside of said cavity within the decay length of one of said evanescent waves; and

    measuring means for monitoring one of said evanescent waves to determine the decay time of said light.

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