Optically based method and apparatus for detecting a phase transition temperature of a material of interest

A method for simultaneously determining a phase transition point for a plurality of samples, comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of samples that are thermally coupled to a common substrate;
• varying a temperature of the substrate for simultaneously varying the temperature of each of the plurality of samples;
• while varying the temperature,
• directing individual ones of a plurality of optical beams through a plurality of first optical fibers and onto individual ones of the plurality of samples;
• collecting with individual ones of a plurality of second optical fibers a portion of the optical beam that at least one of reflects from or that is transmitted through one of the samples;
• conveying the collected portions of the optical beams through the plurality of second optical fibers to individual ones of a plurality of photodetectors;
• monitoring at an output of each of the photodetectors a change in at least one of a transmissive property and a reflective property of the associated one of the plurality of samples;
• and
• responsive to a detected change in the at least one of the transmissive and reflective property of one of the samples, correlating a temperature of the sample with a phase transition point of the sample.

Apparatus for simultaneously determining a phase transition point for a plurality of samples, comprising:

• means for providing a plurality of samples that are thermally coupled to a common substrate;
• means for varying a temperature of the substrate for simultaneously varying the temperature of each of the plurality of samples;
• a plurality of optical fibers for directing individual ones of a plurality of optical beams onto individual ones of the plurality of samples;
• a plurality of second optical fibers for collecting a portion of the individual one of the optical beams that at least one of reflects from or that is transmitted through one of the samples;
• a plurality of photodetectors individual ones of which are optically coupled to an individual one of the second optical fibers for receiving the collected portion of the optical beam therefrom;
• means, coupled to an output of each of the plurality of photodetectors, for detecting a change in at least one of a transmissive property and a reflective property of the associated one of the plurality of samples, and, responsive to a detected change in the at least one of the transmissive and reflective property of one of the samples, for correlating a temperature of the sample with a phase transition point of the sample.

A method for determining a temperature at which a substance changes phase, comprising the steps of:

• providing the substance in a transparent container;
• and
• while changing a temperature of the substance,
• directing an optical beam through a first optical fiber onto the substance;
• collecting with a second optical fiber a portion of the optical beam that at least one of reflects from the substance or that is transmitted through the substance;
• conveying the collected portion of the optical beam through the second optical fiber to a photodetector;
• recording first data at an output of the photodetector indicating a change in at least one of a transmissive property and a reflective property of the substance while recording second data as a temperature at which the output of the photodetector was recorded;
• and
• analyzing the first and second data with a data processor for determining a phase transition of the substance.