SAMPLE ANALYSIS

摘要

A method of analysis for determining a characteristic cycle time of a sample . The method comprises exciting active elements in the sample with sufficient intensity that at least some of the active elements are re-excited to an excited state substantially immediately following relaxation to a ground state, detecting quanta emitted by the active elements in the sample to obta in a detected signal, and analysing the detected signal to derive the characteristic cycle time. The number of active elements in the sample and t he intensity of the excitation are such that quanta are detected in a stream in which individual quanta are distinguishable from each other.