Compact photoacoustic sensor

An apparatus, comprising:

• a platen;
• a light source system including light source system circuitry, at least a first light-emitting component and at least a first light guide component, the first light-emitting component configured to provide light to a first area of the platen via the first light guide component, the first light guide component having a cross-section in the range of 0.25 millimeters to 3 millimeters with less than a 10 percent variation, the first light guide component extending from the first light-emitting component to the platen over a length of less than 8 millimeters;
• a receiver system including at least two receiver stack portions, a first receiver stack portion residing proximate a first side of the first light guide component and a second receiver stack portion residing proximate a second side of the first light guide component, the receiver system being configured to detect acoustic waves corresponding to a photoacoustic response of a target object proximate the first area of the platen to light emitted by the light source system;
• and
• an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield configured to shield the receiver system from at least some of the EMI produced by the light source system circuitry, wherein the first light guide component is configured to transmit light from the first light-emitting component through a first EMI shield portion to the first area of the platen.