Abstract:
A monochromator assembly (10) comprising a premonochromator (12) and a main monochromator (14) in which the main monochromator (14) receives light from the exit slit (26) of the premonochromator (12). The premonochromator includes an adjustable dispersive element, preferably a prism (30), and focussing means (32) for focussing a selected band of wavelengths of light from a source (20) in the form of an image (36, 38, 40, 42) of the premonochromator's entrance slit (16) onto the exit slit (26). The entrance slit (16) of the premonochromator (12) is significantly wider than its exit slit (26) and the dispersive element (30) is further finely adjustable for moving the image of the entrance slit across the exit slit. Thus the dispersive element of the premonochromator provides for "order sorting" of the dispersed wavelengths and via the fine adjustment provides for selection of light emanating from a narrow spatial region of the light source for passage through the exit slit and into the main monochromator.
Abstract:
An optical slit comprises two blades (40, 42) which define a slit between them, each blade being independently movable. This enables both the slit position and the slit width to be adjusted. The slit may be aligned with the centre of a light beam by aiming the light beam at a detector, traversing at least one edge of the slit across the beam path, measuring the intensity of transmitted light at the detector for each position of the slit, and feeding back a signal which adjusts the slit position for maximum light throughput. The width on the optical slit may be selected by placing the slit in the path of the light beam and measuring the light transmitted at the detector, calculating the prcentage of light transmitted for that slit width and feeding back a signal which adjusts slit width to obtain the desired amount of light throughput.
Abstract:
A spectroscopy method in which a sample is scanned without moving the sample. Light from the sample 16 is collected by a lens 14 and analysed at a spectrum analyser 28 before being focused onto a photodetector 32. Light from the focal point of the lens 14 is brought to a tight focus on the photodetector 32 whilst light from in front of or behind the focal point comes to a more diffuse focus. Light form the pixels on the photodetector 32 corresponding to the focal point of the 14 is processed, whilst light from pixels outside this region is ignored, thus forming a 'virtual slit'. The sample 16 is scanned in a vertical direction by moving the 'virtual slit' up and down, by changing the designated rows of pixels from which data is analysed. The sample is scanned in a horizontal direction by moving a vertical slit 24 in the light path in a horizontal direction.
Abstract:
A spectrograph with a first concave spectrographic diffraction grating is positioned to receive light from the input light source is configured to provide a diffracted light output dispersing the components of the input light source in a first direction. The dispersion forms the input light into an intermediate spectra. The intermediate spectra is formed in a focal surface by the once diffracted light. A slit is substantially positioned on the focal surface. A second concave diffraction grating is positioned to receive once diffracted light from the slit and configured to provide a twice diffracted light output, the second concave diffraction grating dispersing the components of the input light source in a second direction. The second direction is different from the first direction, the dispersion forming the input light into an output spectra.
Abstract:
A spectroscopy method in which a sample is scanned without moving the sample. Light from the sample 16 is collected by a lens 14 and analysed at a spectrum analyser 28 before being focused onto a photodetector 32. Light from the focal point of the lens 14 is brought to a tight focus on the photodetector 32 whilst light from in front of or behind the focal point comes to a more diffuse focus. Light form the pixels on the photodetector 32 corresponding to the focal point of the 14 is processed, whilst light from pixels outside this region is ignored, thus forming a 'virtual slit'. The sample 16 is scanned in a vertical direction by moving the 'virtual slit' up and down, by changing the designated rows of pixels from which data is analysed. The sample is scanned in a horizontal direction by moving a vertical slit 24 in the light path in a horizontal direction.
Abstract:
An optical system for analyzing light from a plurality of samples is provided. The optical system includes a plurality of holders adapted to have samples located therein, a collection lens, a transmission grating, and a reimaging lens. The collection lens is configured to receive and substantially collimate light from the samples. The transmission grating is configured to spectrally disperse the substantially collimated light from the collection lens. The reimaging lens is configured to receive the light from the light dispersing element and direct the light onto a light detection device. A method of optically analyzing at least one sample is also provided.
Abstract:
An ultraviolet/visible/infrared spectrophotometer, with a pulsed light source (10), has a monochromator with variable slit width to provide variable spectral resolution. The dynamic range at the detectors (24, 28) is reduced by varying the pulse energy emitted by the light source (10) in accordance with the wavelength and slit width settings (34, 36), and/or by varying the slit height in accordance with the slit width. The ligth source (10) may be a xenon flash lamp.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an arrangement for surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. The objective of the invention is to create an arrangement in a miniaturized form, whereby said arrangement is embodied as a portable unit that is economical to produce and can be used to carry out simultaneous multi-component analysis, especially with respect to interaction between bio-molecules. To achieve this aim, the inventive device consists of an optical prism (1) with a sample cell (2) associated therewith and at least two sample detection areas (21; 22) that are provided with a thin metal coating that is selected for the implementation of the SPR method and which contains, at least partially, surface-immobilized areas. Light emanating from a broadband light source (L) is conducted via an optic fiber (31) and collimated by a collimator (41) with an aperture that is adapted to the base surface of the prism, making its way to an entrance surface (11) of the optical prism (1) and a multi adpatable diaphragm (5) is provided between the collimator (41) and the entrance surface (11). Said diaphragm clears a defined optical path to the base surface (13) of the prism in a chronologically successive manner and the respective switching states thereof can be fed to an evaluation and control unit (6) via a data and control line (61) wherein current diaphragm switching states can be allocated to spectra corresponding to said switching states, whereby the spectra are obtained by detecting the light that leaves the exit surface (12) of the prism by means of another collimator (42) that is adapted to the base surface (13) of the prism in the aperture and whose exit is connected to another optic fiber (32) and the exit thereof forms the entrance to a polychromator (7) wherein the spectrally decomposed light is supplied to a CCD or diode array (71), whereby the exit thereof is connected to the evaluation and control unit (6) by means of a data line (62).
Abstract:
A multi-slit spectrometer is combined with a two-dimensional detector array (D) to enable simultaneous spectral analysis of several objects, improving the signal-to-noise ratio of multispectral imagery. The multi-slit spectrometer includes a multi-slit structure defining a plurality of parallel thin slits (S, S'), and a first lens (L) for directing object light onto the multi-slit structure. A second lens (C) collimates and directs light which has passed through the slits of the multi-slit structure onto a light dispersing element (P) such as a dispersing prism or a diffraction grating. A third lens (L>1
Abstract:
A multi-mode imaging spectrometer that incorporates two orthogonally positioned entrance slits and is configurable between a first mode in which the system produces images of relatively wide spatial coverage with moderate spectral resolution, using a first one of the two slits, and a second mode in which the system produces images of a smaller spatial area with fine spectral resolution, using the other one of the two slits.