US 12,072,281 B2
Multipass optical spectroscopy cell having a single transmission path
Patrick E. O'Rourke, Martinez, GA (US); Kimberly Alicia Strange Fessler, Aiken, SC (US); and Donald J. Pak, Martinez, GA (US)
Assigned to Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC, Aiken, SC (US)
Filed by SAVANNAH RIVER NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS, LLC, Aiken, SC (US)
Filed on Oct. 23, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/661,528.
Prior Publication US 2021/0123858 A1, Apr. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 21/25 (2006.01); G01N 21/39 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 21/255 (2013.01) [G01N 21/39 (2013.01); G01N 2201/0612 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
an energy source that emits a collimated light;
an optical cell that includes:
a first end comprising a first substrate that is transparent to the collimated light, wherein only a portion of the first substrate is transparent to the collimated light, the first substrate including a first inner surface;
a second end comprising a second substrate that is transparent to the collimated light, wherein only a portion of the second substrate is transparent to the collimated light, the second substrate including a second inner surface;
a sample cavity defined between the first inner surface and the second inner surface;
a first series of reflectors on the first inner surface, the reflectors of the first series being spaced apart from one another and aligned with one another on the first inner surface, the first series of reflectors including adjacent reflectors that include a first reflector and a second reflector adjacent thereto with no reflector between the first reflector and the adjacent second reflector, each reflector of the first series comprising a planar reflection face, the planar reflection faces of the adjacent reflectors of the first series being co-planar with or parallel to one another;
a second series of reflectors on the second inner surface, the reflectors of the second series being spaced apart from one another and aligned with one another on the second inner surface, the second series of reflectors including adjacent reflectors that include a first reflector and a second reflector adjacent thereto with no reflector between the first reflector and the adjacent second reflector, each reflector of the second series comprising a planar reflection face, the planar reflection faces of the adjacent reflectors of the second series being co-planar with or parallel to one another;
an inlet for the collimated light;
an outlet fora resulting energy beam; and
a beam path defined between the inlet and the outlet, the beam path comprising a plurality of passes across a length of the sample cavity, each pass beginning or ending at a reflection face of a reflector, the beam path at the inlet being parallel to the beam path at the outlet, wherein the plurality of passes consists of a prime number of passes and wherein the beam path defines a single, unique energy transmission path; and
a spectrometer or detector in optical communication with the outlet.