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Abstract

A resonant optical cavity having a laser medium therein is positioned within a specific environment, such as a process and/or harsh environment, and a sensing region, also within the resonant optical cavity, receives light whereby particles at the sensing region affect, as by scattering, light at the sensing region. The affected light is optically collected within the specific environment and optically coupled to a processor outside the specific environment where an output is provided that is indicative of particles detected at the sensing region, including small particles having a size at least as small as about 0.05 to 10 microns. With a solid state laser medium utilized within the resonant optical cavity, the solid state laser medium is pumped by an actuator, such as a semiconductor diode laser, providing a light output that is optically coupled to the solid state laser medium. Optical coupling includes fiber optics and lenses for focusing light into and out of the fiber optics, as well as a notch filter through which scattered light is coupled to the processor, and, with the specific environment contained within a housing, an optical feedthrough is utilized to couple light through the housing.

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First Claim