1.2 Spectral Intensity Distribution of A Light Emitting Diode

Science - Physics - Optics and Atom Physics - 1 Spectroscopic
analysis (P1415101)
1.2 Spectral intensity distribution of a light

emitting diode
Experiment by: Phywe
Printed: Nov 5, 2013 2:56:50 PM
interTESS (Version 13.06 B200, Export 2000)
Task
Task
What does the spectrum of a light emitting diode look like?
When we observe the white LED through a grating we can see colour components across nearly
the entire spectrum. Because our eye cannot see the individual frequencies objectively but
overemphasises the green range it is difficult to say which intensities the individual colour
ranges have. An absolute comparative determination of intensity is hardly possible.
In contrast to our eye, the light sensor in the set measures the light intensity very precisely
and outputs a voltage proportional to the incident intensity which can be measured with the
multimeter. This allows the spectrum to be measured and to determine at which frequencies
the individual LEDs have their radiation maximum and what their relationship to each other
is.
In this experiment you will learn how to (objectively) measure the spectrum.
Use the space below for your own notes.
-1-
Logged in as a teacher you will find a button below for additional information.
Additional Information
Care is to be taken in particular that the experimental setup is not shifted during the
experiment, in particular the ruler because otherwise no reference point for the
comparison of the measuring curves is available. Furthermore, this experiment has
to be carried out in a completely dark room.
-2-
Material
Material
Material from "TESS-Optics and Atomic Physics" (Order No. 13286.88)
Position No. Material Order No. Quantity

1 Support base 02001-00 2
2 Support rod 02037-00 2
3 Slide mount without angle scale 09851-02 2
4 Aperture holder 22604-09 3
5 Lens on slide mount, f = +100 mm 09820-02 1
6 Ruler 09820-04 1
7 Illumination slit 09851-12 1
8 Grating, 500 lines/mm 09851-16 1
9 LED-red 09852-20 1
10 LED-green 09852-30 1
11 LED-blue 09852-40 1
12 LED-UV 09852-50 1
13 LED-white 09852-60 1
14 Light sensor 09852-70 1
15 Power supply, 5 V DC 09852-99 1
16 Stray light tube 09852-71 1
17 Stray light tube for LED 09852-01 1
Additional material
18 Power Supply, controlled 0...12 V 13505-93 1
19 Digital multimeter 07122-00 1
Connecting lead, red 07362-01 2
Connecting lead, blue 07362-04 2
A4 sheet of paper 2
-3-
Material required for the experiment
-4-
Setup
Setup
• This experiment is to be carried out in a fully blacked-out room.
• Place the white LED with a slide mount at the end of the optical bench and connect it to
the power supply (12 V).
• Warning: Observe the correct polarity.
Fig. 1 Fig. 2
Fig. 3 Fig. 4
Fig. 5 Fig. 6
• Fit the tube over the LED.

• The power supply is set to 12 V.
-5-
Fig. 7
• Place the lens at a distance of approx. 10 cm so that behind it the light is approximately
parallel (the attachment of the slide mount points away from the LED).
Fig. 8
• Check the parallelism by means of paper: If when the LED is switched on the light cone
remains approximately the same size when the paper is removed from the lens, the lens
is in the right position.
Fig. 9
• The illumination slit and the the grating are inserted together in the aperture holder (the
slit at the back and vertical, the grating vertical in front).
-6-
Fig. 10 Fig. 11
Fig. 12
• The aperture holder is inserted in the holder on the lens mount.
Fig. 13
• At the end of the support base push the ruler against it in such a way that it makes contact
with both sides of the foot (i.e. it is vertical with respect to the optical axis).
-7-
Fig. 14
• Place two white sheets of paper below the ruler. On the ruler mark a location to prevent
the ruler from slipping off.
Fig. 15 Fig. 16
• Clamp the light sensor in a further slide mount and connect the power supply to the light
sensor.
Fig. 17 Fig. 18
-8-
Fig. 19 Fig. 20
• Connect the multimeter as a voltage meter (measuring 2 V) to the photodiode.
Fig. 21
• Fit the tube over the light sensor.
Fig. 22 Fig. 23
The spectral sensitivity of the photodiode

The spectral sensitivity of the photodiode is not uniformly distributed over the entire
wavelength of the received light (fig. S1-B), but over the whole of the spectral zone
-9-
used a linear relationship between the received light and the measured voltage (fig
S1-A) exists. For this reason no absolute brightness measurements or comparisons
are possible.
Figure S1: Properties of the photodiodes deployed. A — The relationship between the
received light intensity and the measured voltage is sufficiently linear. B — The
photodiode is sufficiently sensitive for the spectral area of the LED deployed but it
does not allow any direct comparative measurements.
- 10 -
Action
Action
• It is recommended to sick something over the green LED (operating indicator) on the light
sensor because it could falsify the measurement.
• The slide mount holding the light sensor is moved with the mount along the ruler through
the first order of the spectrum. The following data are recorded in small steps: Colour,
location (read on ruler) and value measured for the light sensor.
• After the measurement, the light sensor is pushed along the ruler once again in order to
identify the maximum and to record it for the series of measured values.
Fig. 24
• Then the LED is swapped for one of a different colour. Be sure not to shift the remaining
optical setup when doing this.
• After any changeover the measurement is repeated as it was done with the white LED.
• This procedure is repeated until all the LEDs have been measured.
Fig. 25
Additional Information
If the room is completely dark it can be difficult to read the measured values at the
individual locations. In this case it is simpler if the multimeter is placed in the direct
- 11 -
path of light where the light passing in a straight line through the grating can
illuminate the display.
Alternative action:
If the experiment is to be carried out as a demonstration it is recommended to glue
the photodiode onto the slide of an xy plotter and in this way to scan the spectrum
and at the same time plot the values.
- 12 -
Results
Results
Red LED
Spectral colour Position in cm Measured value at light sensor in V
nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn

Green LED

- 13 -
Blue LED

UV LED

- 14 -
White LED

- 15 -
Evaluation
Evaluation
Question 1
The measured values are plotted in a coordinate system as a funcion of their location. Bacause
the measured value can vary very much depending on the external conditions only a rough
template is provided.
Question 2
Make a sketch of the measured curves on paper and compare the curves to each other by
graphical evaluation and scale the x-axis with that of the wavelength by marking the peaks
for the individuals LEDs and adding the specified maximum for the wavelength. For this use
of table 1.
Table 1: Intensity peaks for the LEDs
LED-colour Wavelength in nm
UV 399
blue 463
green 514
red 632
Question 3
Enter an intensity maximum for the white LED.
- 16 -
Measured results
Because the results of the measurements can vary very much depending on the
arrangement of the ruler and the precise positions of the lens, here only the analysis
is given in the form of a spectrogram (fig. S2). As these measured values had been
recording using the method described with the xy plotter in order to illustrate the
basic function.
- 17 -
Figure S2: Evaluation of the measured results
In figure S1 the various functions for the spectra of the individual LEDs are found. As
the LEDs do not provide a homogeneous bright cone of light, the shape of the curve
can sometimes appear somewhat different. However, the peaks are always clearly
apparent. Here it is also apparent that the white LED also has a peak in the blue-green
range. The highest peak is located at approx. 500 nm.
The curve for the green LED is wider than e.g. that of the red one, which is also
apparent if the LED is viewed directly through the grating.
- 18 -

1.2 Spectral Intensity Distribution of A Light Emitting Diode

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

1.2 Spectral Intensity Distribution of A Light Emitting Diode

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Science - Physics - Optics and Atom Physics - 1 Spectroscopic

1.2 Spectral intensity distribution of a light

Use the space below for your own notes.

Position No. Material Order No. Quantity

• Fit the tube over the LED.

• The aperture holder is inserted in the holder on the lens mount.

• Connect the multimeter as a voltage meter (measuring 2 V) to the photodiode.

• Fit the tube over the light sensor.

The spectral sensitivity of the photodiode

Spectral colour Position in cm Measured value at light sensor in V

nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn

Spectral colour Position in cm Measured value at light sensor in V

Spectral colour Position in cm Measured value at light sensor in V

Spectral colour Position in cm Measured value at light sensor in V

nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn

nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnn

Spectral colour Position in cm Measured value at light sensor in V

Table 1: Intensity peaks for the LEDs

You might also like