In the modern world, the study of substances, substances and various kinds of radiation is extremely important for further technological developments. High-precision analysis of the object allows you to collect data about it that cannot be obtained by traditional metrological means. For such purposes, a spectrometer is used in various fields. This is a device with which you can determine the characteristics of color coatings, light radiation and the elemental composition of solid-state materials.
Spectrometry Tasks
The general purpose of the spectrometer is an analysis tool that gives an idea of various substances and individual parameters of condensed matter. And radiation, liquid, solids and even molecules can act as a target object.
Each spectrometer can work with specific elements or media, and in limited frequency ranges. There are universal models with extended operational characteristics, but special mechanical manipulations are required to work with such equipment.
What are universal and specialized spectrometers used for? The former are suitable for generating parameters of serial pulses using a frequency comb, and the latter are used for narrow tasks associated with the same type of measurements under certain conditions. For example, if you periodically want to fix the light range on the job site.
Today, quantum models of spectrometers are also widely used, which are used in the stream scanning of materials, controlling a wide range of different substances and media at high speed.
Optical slit
The main working components of the spectrometer are the entrance slit and diffraction grating. The slot serves to pass and visualize the radiation entering the device analyzer through a special cavity. It determines the luminous flux, which is sent to the optical region of the detector. The input circuit can have a different width, depending on the general purpose of the spectrometer - this is a range from 5 to 800 microns, on average. The slot height is 1 mm as standard.
Spectrometer diffraction grating
An equally important element is the diffraction grating of the spectrometer. This is a component that generates ranges along the wavelength of the light, and also affects the resolution of the detector. In practice, this grating will determine the angle of brightness and the frequency of light strokes.
There are holographic and rifled gratings. The difference between them is determined by the configuration of the distribution of laser beams on the photosensitive layer and the general spectral characteristics.
Types of spectrometers
Among the wide variety of these devices, the following varieties can be distinguished:
- Glossmeter. This is a gloss-oriented spectrometer. It is used in cases where this parameter acts as a qualitative characteristic.
- Spectrophotometer Using this device, the spectral composition is analyzed by determining the length of electromagnetic radiation in the optical range. The output is presented as photometry and can be used to control printing.
- Colorimeter In this case, we are talking about a variety of color spectrometer. This is a device for measuring the intensity and temperature of shades, adjusted for the control color scale.
- Exposure meter. Determines the exposure in photography and cinematography.
- Spectroradiometer. The basis of this apparatus is an optical system that accumulates spectra and counts them. First, the spectrum information is recorded by scanning, and then this data is converted into an electrical signal.
- Bright meter. A device that determines the brightness of light sources.
- Light meter. This unit provides light information.
Devices can perform each of these functions individually, or they can combine several operations. Multifunctional industrial spectrometers are capable of working with light, paints and other working environments in the context of studying various parameters.
Portable and stationary devices
This classification to a greater extent determines the separation of technical, structural and communication characteristics. Portable (mobile, handheld) devices look like small testers or multimeters. These are compact devices with which you can control colors on surfaces with complex geometry, where the use of stationary equipment is impossible. Moreover, despite the small size, devices of this type effectively cope with the analysis of different coatings, regardless of texture and grain size.
A stationary spectrometer is a more functional apparatus, provided with powerful optical elements and data processing facilities. As a rule, it has its own microprocessor with a system for visual representation of the recorded spectra. The user can work with their own LCD-display and keyboard equipment.
The principle of operation of light spectrometers
The spectrometer operates as follows:
- At the first stage, the device registers and accumulates light spectra, after which the information goes through the digitization of the signal with further analysis in a special program.
- Processing of the primary light flux occurs in the optical fiber as it passes through a narrow aperture.
- Next, the scattered light is directed into the already mentioned diffraction grating, which scatters the stream at different angles.
- At the final stage, photons captured by the detector are converted into an electrical signal, which is processed in a computer.
How does a light spectrometer work with software? Through the USB port, the device transfers electrons to the computer in which the signal is interpolated. In the simplest models, graphs are performed with the distribution of spectra along the wavelength. A more sophisticated technique additionally calibrates and performs numerous spectral operations based on the data obtained, etc.
Principle of operation of the spectrometer of paints
Commonly used instruments for the precise determination of shades on textured and structured surfaces. How does a paint spectrometer work? The optical system directly receives the data, after which the information is analyzed and processed in the nozzles of the aperture. Most of these devices are equipped with flash xenon lamps, which record spectra with a wavelength of 360 to 740 nm on average. The output is a graph with colorimetric values.
Conclusion
Spectrometers, for all the complexity of their device, have an extensive scope. They are used in scientific research, in the control of products in production, in construction, in assessing the quality of construction, as well as in agriculture and the domestic sphere. The fact is that a spectrometer is a device that monitors characteristics that may be of significance to each person, depending on the circumstances. Analysis of light, for example, will allow you to organize comfortable lighting both in enterprises and at home. Work with paint, in turn, will allow the ordinary motorist to choose the optimal paint mixture for body repair, and the lining manufacturer to successfully produce the material with the specified texture.