Chapter 7

Components of Optical
Instruments

Components of Optical
Instruments

Typical spectroscopic instruments contain five components: (1) a

stable source of radiant energy, (2) a transparent container for
holding the sample, (3) a device that isolates a restricted region
of the spectrum for measurement, (4) a radiation detector that
converts radiant energy into a signal detector, (5) a signal
processor and readout.

Components of Optical
Instruments
Absorption
Fluorescence
Phosphorescence
Scattering
Emission
Chemiluminescence

Rayleigh & Raman Scattering

Occur when the dimensions of the particles that

cause the scattering are small in comparison to the
wavelength of the incident radiation. Dissolved
particles can result in Rayleigh and Raman
scattering.
A type of Raman Spectrometer: FRA 106/S
Spectrometer

Sources of Radiation
Requirements
Sufficient power
Stability over long periods of time
Voltage regulation required as radiant
power varies exponentially with voltage

Lasers

Lasers
Pumping
Spontaneous

emission (fluorescence)
Stimulated emission
Absorption

Wavelength Selectors
Filters
Interference Filters
Interference Wedges
Absorption Filters

Wavelength Selectors
Monochromators- one color - pass a narrow band of
wavelengths

The SURE_SPECTRUM is an imaging spectrograph and

scanning monochromator that features dual exit ports for
maximum flexibility.

Wavelength Selectors
View of inside of monochromator

Wavelength Selectors

Radiation Transducers
Photomultiplier

Radiation Transducers
Photodiode Arrays (PDA)

Radiation Transducers
Charge Transfer Devices
Charge Injection Devices (CID)
Charge-Coupled Devices (CCD)

Signal Processors & Readouts

Photon Counting
Advantages:
Improved signal-to-noise ratio
Sensitivity to low radiation levels
Improved precision for a given measurement time
Lowered sensitivity to photomultiplier tube voltage
and temperature fluctuations
Detection method of choice in fluorescence,
chemiluminescence, and Raman spectrometry

Signal Processors & Readouts

Photon Counting
Disadvantages:
Required equipment is
more complex and
expensive
Technique has not been
widely applied for
routine molecular
absorption
measurements in
ultraviolet and visible
regions

Principles of Fourier Transform

Optical Measurements

Transforms data set from time domain to frequency

domain
Advantages
Throughput
High resolving power
Interferometers
Michelson
Mach-Zender
Fabry-Perot

References

www.anachem.umu.se/jumpstation.htm
www.anachem.umu.se/cgi/jumpstation.exe?AtomicSpectroscopy
www.anachem.umu.se/cgi/jumpstation.exe?OpticalMolecularSpectroscopy
www.minyos.its.rmit.edu.au/~rcmfa/mstheory.html
http://science.widener.edu/sub/ftir/intro_it.html
http://www.s-a-s.org/
http://www.chemsw.com
http://www.scimedia.com/chem-ed/spec/atomic/aa.html
http://www.chemistry.msu.edu/courses/cem333/Chapter%207%20-%20Components%20of
%20Optical%20Instruments.pdf
http://www.brukeroptics.com/
http://laxmi.nuc.ucla.edu:8248/M248_99/autorad/Scint/pmt.html
http://www.spectralproducts.com
http://www.parallax-tech.com/twotubes.htm
http://www.thespectroscopynet.com/Educational/Gratings.htm
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/digitalimaging/concepts/ebccd.html
http://www.cerncourier.com/main/article/43/2/7/1/cernnews9_3-03