Time-wavelength optical sampling systems and methods for determining composition of a sample based on detected pulses of different durations

An optical sampling system, comprising:

• a light source configured to transmit an optical signal having a plurality of first pulses;
• a dispersion medium configured to receive and disperse the first pulses transmitted by the light source, thereby providing dispersed first pulses;
• a sample chamber having a sample within an optical path of the dispersed first pulses;
• a combiner configured to receive the dispersed first pulses from the sample chamber and a plurality of second pulses, the combiner configured to combine the dispersed first pulses and the second pulses, thereby cross-correlating each of the dispersed first pulses with a respective one of the second pulses in different wavelength ranges;
• and
• an optical detector configured to detect the cross-correlated pulses and to provide data indicative of the cross-correlated pulses,
• wherein the system is configured to determine a composition of the sample based on the data.

An optical sampling method, comprising:

• transmitting an optical signal from a light source, the optical signal having a first pulse;
• dispersing the first pulse with a dispersion medium, thereby providing a dispersed first pulse;
• receiving at a combiner the dispersed first pulse from a sample;
• receiving a second pulse at the combiner;
• combining the dispersed first pulse and the second pulse with the combiner, thereby providing a first combined pulse, wherein a duration of the dispersed first pulse is greater than a duration of the second pulse at the combiner;
• detecting the first combined pulse with an optical detector;
• and
• determining a composition of the sample based on the detecting.

An optical sampling method, comprising:

• transmitting an optical signal from a light source, the optical signal having a plurality of first pulses;
• dispersing the first pulses with a dispersion medium, thereby providing dispersed first pulses;
• receiving at a combiner the dispersed first pulses from a sample;
• receiving a plurality of second pulses at the combiner;
• combining the dispersed first pulses and the second pulses with the combiner, thereby cross-correlating each of the dispersed first pulses with a respective one of the second pulses in different wavelength ranges;
• detecting the cross-correlated pulses with an optical detector;
• and
• determining a composition of the sample based on the detecting.