Optical means for calibrating temperature
The invention relates to a system and method for the optical calibration of the temperature of a micro-environment. The system comprises a thermochromic liquid crystal in combination with a luminophore. The steps of the method comprise providing in combination in the micro-environment at least one thermochromic liquid crystal and a luminophore, varying the temperature of the environment while irradiating the combination with light that includes light at one or more excitation wavelengths of the luminophore, and monitoring luminescence emitted by the combination while recording the temperature of the environment.
1. A system for the optical determination of a predetermined event temperature of a micro-environment, the system comprising a light source, a light detector, and a thermochromic liquid crystal in said micro-environment in combination with a luminophore, wherein said thermochromic liquid crystal is in liquid form during use and prevents or allows excitation of the luminophore by the light source in a temperature-dependent manner, wherein:
A) the thermochromic liquid crystal lies between
i) the light source and the luminophore; and/or
ii) the luminophore and the light detector; or
B) the thermochromic liquid crystal, luminophore, and light detector are positioned so that
i) light reflected by the thermochromic liquid crystal irradiates the luminophore, and the light detector is positioned to detect light emitted by the luminophore; and/or
ii) light emitted by the luminophore is reflected by the thermochromic liquid crystal, and the light detector is positioned to detect said reflected light, and
wherein said luminophore and said thermochromic liquid crystal are present as discrete layers within a container for said system.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said thermochromic liquid crystal is a clearing point crystal.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said thermochromic liquid crystal is a temperature-sensitive crystal.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said system comprises a plurality of thermochromic liquid crystals.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said luminophore is a liquid, a gas or a solid.
6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein said luminophore is a solid which is bound to, or coated onto, a surface.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said luminophore is fluorescent or phosphorescent.
8. A thermal cycler comprising the system according to claim 1 .