High-throughput chiral detector and methods for using same
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting optical properties of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of:
- exposing a sample including a chiral analyte to a periodically varying magnetic field across a sample;
passing an incident polarized light beam having a narrow bandwidth through the sample, while the sample is under the influence of the periodically varying magnetic field to produce an output light beam;
removing substantially all of the incident polarized light from the output beam;
detecting the output beam to produce an output signal; and
lock-in amplifying the output signal, where the lock-in signal is a frequency of the periodically varying magnetic field or a harmonic thereof to produce a magnitude and phase of the output signal.
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Abstract
A new generation polarimetry apparatus and methodology is disclosed, which involve passing polarized light through a sample including a chiral analyte, where the analyte is under the influence of a periodically varying magnetic field. The apparatus also utilizes optical heterodyne detection and lock-in detection at higher order harmonics of the magnetic field modulation frequency to improve sensitivity and detection limits of optical properties of chiral analytes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting optical properties of an analyte in a sample comprising the steps of:
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exposing a sample including a chiral analyte to a periodically varying magnetic field across a sample;
passing an incident polarized light beam having a narrow bandwidth through the sample, while the sample is under the influence of the periodically varying magnetic field to produce an output light beam;
removing substantially all of the incident polarized light from the output beam;
detecting the output beam to produce an output signal; and
lock-in amplifying the output signal, where the lock-in signal is a frequency of the periodically varying magnetic field or a harmonic thereof to produce a magnitude and phase of the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16)
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8. A polarimeter method comprising the steps of:
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exposing a sample including a chiral analyte to a periodically varying magnetic field across a sample;
passing an incident polarized light beam having a narrow bandwidth through the sample, while the sample is under the influence of the periodically varying magnetic field to produce an output light beam;
optically heterodyne detecting the output beam to produce an output signal; and
lock-in amplifying the output signal, where the lock-in frequency is a frequency of the periodically varying magnetic field or a harmonic thereof to produce a magnitude and phase of the output signal.
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9. An apparatus for enhanced detection of optical properties of analytes, where the apparatus comprises:
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a light source adapted to generate an incident light beam having a narrow bandwidth;
a first polarizer adapted to polarize the incident light beam to produce a polarized light beam;
a sample cell containing a sample including a chiral analyte adapted to receive the polarized beam and produce an output light beam;
a magnetic field generator surrounding the cell and adapted to generate a periodically varying magnetic field across the cell such that the analyte is exposed to a periodically varying magnetic field as the polarized light beam passes through the cell;
a power supply adapted to supply a periodically varying electric current to the magnetic field generator to generate the periodically varying magnetic field;
a second polarizer or analyzer aligned substantially out-of-phase with the first polarizer to block substantially all of the incident polarized light to form an analyzed, output light beam;
a detector adapted to receive the analyzed output light beam and produce an output signal; and
a lock-in amplifier adapted to amplify the output signal and generates an amplitude and phase of the output signal, where the lock-in frequency is the frequency of the periodically varying magnetic field or a harmonic thereof. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the lock-in amplifiers is locked to a combined frequency comprising frequency of the power supply and the frequency of the modulator.
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12. An apparatus for enhanced detection of optical properties of analytes, where the apparatus comprises:
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a light source adapted to generate an incident beam of light having a narrow bandwidth;
a first polarizer adapted to polarize the incident light beam to produce a polarized light beam;
a flow cell into which a sample including a chiral analyte is supplied, where the cell is adapted to receive the polarized beam and produce an output beam;
a magnetic field generator surrounding the cell and adapted to generate a periodically varying magnetic field across the cell such that the analyte is exposed to a periodically varying magnetic field as the polarized light beam passes through the cell;
a power supply adapted to supply a periodically varying electric current to the magnetic field generator to generate the periodically varying magnetic field;
a second polarizer or analyzer aligned substantially out-of-phase with the first polarizer to block substantially all of the incident polarized light to form an analyzed, output light beam;
a detector adapted to receive the analyzed output light beam and produce an output signal; and
a lock-in amplifier adapted to amplify the output signal and generates an amplitude and phase of the output signal, where the lock-in frequency is the frequency of the periodically varying magnetic field or a harmonic thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 17)
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18. An apparatus for enhanced detection of optical properties of analytes, where the apparatus comprises:
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a first light delivery system including a light source adapted to generate light having a narrow bandwidth and a plurality of optical fibers, each fiber adapted to carry a beam of incident light;
a first polarizer adapted to polarize the incident light beams to produce polarized light beams;
a sample cell including a plurality of sample chamber, each chamber containing a sample including a chiral analyte and each chamber adapted to receive a polarized light beam and produce an output light beam;
a magnetic field generator surrounding the cell and adapted to generate a periodically varying magnetic field across each chamber of the cell such that the analytes in the chambers are exposed to a periodically varying magnetic field as the polarized light beam passes through the cell;
a power supply adapted to supply a periodically varying electric current to the magnetic field generator to generate the periodically varying magnetic field;
a second light delivery system including a plurality of optical fibers, each fiber adapted to receive one of the output light beams and a second polarizer or analyzer aligned substantially out-of-phase with the first polarizer to block substantially all of the incident polarized light in each output light beam to form analyzed, output light beams;
a detector adapted to receive the analyzed output light beams and produce output signals; and
a lock-in amplifier adapted to amplify the output signals and generate an amplitude and phase of each output signal, where the lock-in frequency is the frequency of periodically varying magnetic field or a harmonic thereof. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification