Patent ID: 8743368
Filing Date: 2014-06-03
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An optical detection system for generating and detecting a beam of electromagnetic radiation having an intensity, comprising: a source for producing the beam of electromagnetic radiation; a body, that is at least partially transparent and comprises an ATR-sensor layer on at least a portion of the body that comprises a plasmon generating film that is adapted to generate an evanescent wave, having an entrance surface for the beam of electromagnetic radiation, a reflective surface that reflects the beam transmitted through the entrance surface, and an exit surface through which the beam reflected from the second surface exits the transparent body; a distribution device between the beam source and the body; wherein the distribution device redistributes the intensity of the beam from a nonuniform intensity distribution to a substantially uniform intensity distribution, and generates an intensity profile to produce a signal-to-noise ratio over a full measurement range of the intensity profile; and a detector that detects the beam of electromagnetic radiation exiting the body.