Signal to noise ratio in chromatography

A method for improving a quality of a signal in a fluid-based separation scheme by employing a plurality of stationary sensors, the method comprising:

• (a) stopping a fluid solution adjacent to the plurality of stationary sensors;
• (b) sensing information about the solution with at least some of the plurality of stationary sensors;
• (c) operating on signals from each of the at least some of the plurality of stationary sensors using an operation selected from a group consisting of integration, summation, and statistical correlation to create a signal with greater signal to noise ratio than any of the individual plurality of signals;
• and
• (d) using said signal with greater signal to noise ratio to produce a chromatogram.

An apparatus for improving a quality of a signal in a capillary separation scheme by employing a plurality of stationary sensors, the apparatus comprising:

• (a) means for stopping a flow of a solution adjacent to the plurality of stationary sensors;
• (b) sensors for sensing information about the solution with at least some of the plurality of stationary sensors;
• and
• (c) at least one calculation unit operating on signals from each of the at least some of the plurality of stationary sensors using an operation selected from a group consisting of integration, summation, and statistical correlation to create a signal with greater signal to noise ratio than any of the individual plurality of signals.