Designs, implementations, and techniques for optically measuring a sample and integrated systems that provide CT-scan, optical probing and therapy by electromagnetic radiation treatment. A method of making a partial metal nanoshell preferably includes asymmetrically confining a substrate particle and selectively layering a metallic material over the substrate particle according to the asymmetry. A first holding member holds a portion of the input unit, which is different from the edge portion, to the unit support portion. Time-invariance is preserved in the echo tail path.