New generation spectrograph

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December 2005 Sensors & Transducers

Irish company, Andor Technology, is known for its leading range of multichannel detectors used in spectroscopy and low-light level imaging applications. Two leading products on offer are the Mechelle and the Shamrock series spectrographs. This comes as no surprise as Andor has been supporting spectrograph users for years with detectors and is fully aware of what the spectroscopist needs.

The Shamrock 303i is a pre-aligned detector spectrometer option allowing seamless integration of software, electronics, optics and detector. If the customer has an existing detector the Shamrock may be ordered as a standalone spectrograph with the option to retrofit the existing detector.

The Shamrock 303i has a USB 2.0 interface, making it easy to use. The instrument includes an interchangeable triple grating turret which provides flexibility and convenience. The end-user can decide to order more than one turret and these are easily and speedily removed and replaced, the pre-aligned mount simply dropping into place. A wide range of replicated and holographic gratings with different blaze wavelengths is offered. The gratings range from 150 lines/mm to 2400 lines/mm and with the correct grating choice the full spectral coverage is from 170 nm to 1,8 µm. The wavelength resolution with the optimum detector is 0,1 nm, the wavelength accuracy 0,2 nm, and wavelength reproducibility is ±0,05 nm (figures for 1200 l/mm grating, 10 µm slits at 435,8 nm). The software also allows full control of the detector, if an Andor device is fitted.

An intuitive graphical software interface is provided and enables simple operation and control of the spectrograph. The software allows the user full control of the spectrograph functionality including wavelength control and calibration, grating selection, shutter control, slit control (10 µm to 2,5 mm) and filter selection.

A large number of accessories such as optical fibres and fibre adaptors, filter wheels and order sorting filters etc, are available for the Shamrock. For users that do not require the resolution provided by the f/4 303i with its 303 mm focal length Czerny Turner spectrograph, Andor also offers the 163i with a focal length of 163 mm and all the functionality associated with the 303i.

For more information contact Maurice McDowell, MIT, 012 348 0569, www.measureit.co.za

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