Device for investigating non-linear optical behavior of a layer formed from first and second reactants
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorsRobertus W. J. Hollering, Maarten Barmentlo
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Abstract
A method and a device for optically ascertaining the mutual binding of a first and a second reactant are described. Use is made of the fact that a dipolar layer (7) having a non-linear optical behavior is formed upon a reaction between the two reactants. The formation of such a layer is ascertained by illuminating the substance with radiation (8) having one or two frequencies, and by detecting whether radiation (10) from the substance contains a component at a frequency which is twice the frequency, or a mixed term of the frequency of the radiation incident on the substance.
Claims6
A device for ascertaining one of:
- a presence and absence of a binding of a first reactant and a second reactant, wherein upon binding, the first and second reactants form a dipolar layer which displays a non-linear optical behavior at an interface formed between the mutually bound first and second reactants, the device comprising:
- a rectangular housing,
- a transparent sample holder disposed on a wall of said rectangular housing to accommodate the first and the second reactant,
- a radiation source for supplying a radiation beam having at least one discrete frequency, to irradiate the transparent sample holder,
- a detection system for detecting radiation returned from the transparent sample holder having a frequency which differs essentially from said at least one discrete frequency indicating the presence of said dipolar layer, which presence is a result of said binding, wherein the wall of the rectangular housing, within which said radiation source and detection system reside, includes a transparent section which faces the radiation source and detecting system whereupon said transparent sample holder is disposed to be irradiated by said radiation beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.