Hybrid fiber optic probe device for attenuated total reflection spectroscopic applications in UV, visible and IR ranges

A hybrid Attenuated Total Reflection fiber optic probe device comprising:

• (a) a radiation source;
• (b) a detecting system;
• (c) a core-only solid optical fiber probe tip having an input end and an output end;
• (d) an input hollow fiber waveguide configured for association with said radiation source at a first end and interconnection with said input end of said core-only solid optical fiber probe tip at a second end;
• (e) an output hollow fiber waveguide configured for interconnection with said output end of said core-only solid optical fiber probe tip at a first end and association with said detection system at a second end;
• (f) an inwardly tapered solid fiber input radiation collector element configured at a tapered end for interconnection with said second end of said output hollow fiber waveguide so as to receive radiation from said radiation source;
• wherein an outside diameter of said core-only solid optical fiber probe tip and an inside diameter of each one of said input hollow fiber waveguide and said output hollow fiber waveguide is such that said interconnection between each one of said input hollow fiber waveguide and said output hollow fiber waveguide and said core-only solid optical fiber probe tip is by means of inserting said input end of said core-only solid optical fiber probe tip into said second end of said input hollow fiber waveguide and inserting said output end of said core-only solid optical fiber probe tip into said first end of said output hollow fiber waveguide, such that said core-only solid optical fiber probe tip is held in said input and output hollow fiber waveguides by means of friction, and wherein an outside diameter of a portion of said inwardly tapered solid fiber input radiation collector element and an inside diameter of said second end of said output hollow fiber waveguide is such that said tapered end of said inwardly tapered solid fiber input radiation collector element is held in said end of said second end of said output hollow fiber waveguide by means of friction.