Add the expansion board that provides spectral capabilities to your PC
The Ocean Optics PC1000 spectrometer operates as a plug-in board in most any PC type desktop computer. It functions as a "personal spectrometer", essentially "invisible" to the user. lt may be operated either by the basic software supplied or by the incredibly powerful C-Spec™ software. The latter provides full spectral acquisition and full data processing, including reflectance & transmittance measurements, thin film thickness determinations, CIE color calculations, and various mathematical operations (including FFT noise filtering). This combination produces spectra and spectral information which rivals that of spectrometers costing ten times as much.
The PC 1000 is applicable to a wide variety of spectral measuring jobs. Uses include biological studies, chemical analyses, color determinations, optical measurements, and material identifications. Because of its reasonable cost, most every scientist may enjoy the benefits of having spectral analyses in the lab, on the workbench, and at any other location where a computer is used.
Do you know exactly where your peaks are?
Whether analyzing emission peaks or absorbance valleys, determining actual maximum and minimum values may be compromised by the spectrometer being used. Specifically, the optical resolution of the spectrometer may compromise reading of the actual tops. Tops usually don't appear at the specific resolution points. Actual tops may be lost for sharp emission spectra and for spectra having sharp absorption peaks. There is no way to increase spectral resolution other than making actual changes in the Spectrometer used. However, in cases where the resolution of a spectrometer may miss the actual top of a peak, use of Lagrangian interpolation can approximate points not registered by the spectrometer. This is because the Lagrangian interpolation will utilize the relationships of (will go through) actual points in interpolating (adding) interpolated points. In other words, the slope of a portion of the spectrum is used in determining the value of an interpolated point. This means that an interpolated point can quite accurately approximated point not registered by the spectrometer. Hence, use of piecewise Lagrangian interpolation will allow a more accurate determination of emission and absorption spectra. It will be possible to get minimum or maximum wavelengths to an effectively higher resolution, but, of course, the resulting signal at these points would be a function of the interpolating polynomial. Lagrangian interpolation plus a great many other useful calculations, manipulations, and charting capabilities are in Sciencesoft's Calculator newly released version 1.1C software program. This highly useful program is available from Dot Info Systems Corp., c/o Ancal. The Sciencesoft Calculator will enhance most spectral and other"x-y" matrices; at $ 149 per copy, Sciencesoft's Calculator is a wise investment for those researchers involved in advanced spectral calculations.
ALS 06 Fiber Optic Light Source
The ALS-06 is a fiber optic light source, designed to provide a reliable illumination source for spectroscopic and radiometry measurements.
The ALS-06 includes a high intensity quartz halogen lamp, a soft start circuit, a regulated power package, and a collimator lens. The system is very stable, and provides the user with a highly reliable light source. The ability to install a filter in the ALS-06 makes it very versatile; a solar simulation filter, an IR blocking filter a color (ROB), or other specialized filter can easily be installed by the user.
The nominal color temperature of the source is 2800K, also the voltage to the lamp can be adjusted to provide other color temperature illumination.
The precision regulator in the ALS-06 is guaranteed to maintain a constant light intensity. Tests over an eight hour day showed virtually no variation in light output
Output connection is a standard SMA connector. The ALS-06 operates on 90 to 250 VAC, 50/60 Hz.
For further information describing the ALS-06 fiber optic light source, ask for bulletin number 844G.
| Call Ancal at: 1-702-434-1501 for further information |
Sample illumination and reception of spectral information using a
bifurcated fiber optic cable
For reflectance measurements, both illumination of a sample and the reception of spectral
information can be done by use of a bifurcated fiber optic cable. One leg of the cable is
connected to a light source and the other leg is connected to a miniature fiber optic
spectrometer. The bifurcated pair is connected to a probe which brings the illumination to the
sample and also receives the reflected illumination.
The diagram shows a typical setup, where the sample is illuminated by the fiber optic light
source and the reflection is received by the spectrometer. Such a setup closely matches
reflectance data acquired by use of an integrating sphere if calibrated with a standard white.
Sample
When making reflectance measurements, it is imperative to have valid standards. The
Whiteports can provide the needed white reference both for measurements made on optical
benches and for measurements made in the field. The high diffuse reflectance of the
Whiteports is ideal for most reflectance work, as Whiteports are precise and robust.
Whiteports are references of 1.5 mm thick Optolon 2, processed onto anodized aluminum
plate. The 80 mm by 100 mm (nominal three by four inches) surface has been made for
convenience in the field. The size is ample for obtaining valid references of solar radiation.
Whiteports are thin, enabling a Whiteport to be placed in front of a sample for immediate
reference of illumination, usually without disturbing any setup. They are handy references for
radiometry as well as for spectrometry measurements and color determinations.
Optolon 2 is a high reflectance material developed by Optronic Laboratories. The Whiteports
were designed by Ancal and are made to Ancal specifications by Optronic Laboratories.
For less demanding applications in spectroscopy, Cronin Electronics has now available a
Micro-Spectrometer, so named because of its small size . The "Micro" has a fiber optic input
with SMA connector. It has a price to match it's size ($995.). The"Micro" is an ideal device for
Color measurement.
Spectral range: 380 to 780 nm
FIBER OPTIC LIGHT SOURCE
MODEL ALS06
(VISIBLE & NIR)
MINIATURE FIBER OPTIC
SPECTROMETERS
(VISIBLE & NIR}
Fiber optic probe with both illumination
(center of co-ax) and spectrometer
input (around center)
Complete spectrometer systems with light source (see top of page), fiber optic cables, and spectrometer are available from ANCAL, INC. (ancal@ancal.com)
Your standardization to reflectance measurements in the field
The COL120 Whiteport ($ 165.)
4 mm dia.
120 mm
105 mm
86 mm
Reference: 25 4 mm = I inch
Microspec = micro-price
Resolution: 7 nm (12 nm)
Blaze wavelength: 560 nm
Size: 60 x 55 x 25 mm
Digital resolution: 12 bit
Maximum scan rate: 250 scans/second
Fiber Input: 50/125 µm
| For information on Cronin Electronics new Micro-spectrometer, please contact Ancal, Inc. or Cronin Electronics at e-mail: ancal@pobox.com or cronin.electronic@t-online.de |
Irradiance measurements with a fiber optic spectrometer...
Irradiance can readily be measured by use of the type COS7 Cosine Receptor in conjunction with most fiber optic spectrometers. The COS7 provides for the reception of optical radiation which approximates that striking a flat surface. Hence, the Cosine Receptor provides measurements of flux densities as a plane surface would receive radiation from all angles of a hemisphere.
Such measurements are of the flux density per unit area. Because the collector material is of PTFE, there is minimum diffuse reflectance. The shape of the collector results in better cosine response as compared with that of a flat surface, which will tend to lose radiation. The COS7 will receive radiation throughout the visible, portions of the near IR, UV-A and most of the UV-B.
The COS7 Cosine Receptor can be used with most any fiber optic input spectrometer which
has either an SMA connector or a 0.375 inch diameter metal tip. The COS7 is robust and will
perform reliably in the field .
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