What is an optical spectrometer?

Definition of optical spectrometer

Our optical components can also be used in optical spectrometers. Among them, optical spectrometers are instruments for analyzing spectra. Their principle is very simple, which is to decompose the components of different wavelengths of incident light and record the relative intensity of each wavelength. Below, we will briefly introduce the important components of optical spectrometers to show you what a spectrometer is.

Components of optical spectrometers

1. Entrance slit
The entrance slit of an optical spectrometer is the same as the spacing between our corridors. The corridor spacing can control the flow of people. Similarly, the entrance slit can control the amount of light, so as to ensure that the light enters the subsequent optical components in the form of parallel beams.

2. Diffraction grating or prism
The optical spectrometer decomposes light into different wavelengths through a diffraction grating or prism. The diffraction grating separates light of different wavelengths through the interference effect, while the prism uses the refractive properties of light to achieve spectrometry.

3. Detector
The detector of the optical spectrometer records the intensity of the decomposed light. Commonly used detectors include photomultiplier tubes, CCD (charge-coupled devices) and CMOS sensors.

4. Optical routing system
This part is usually composed of mirrors or lenses, which are used to guide light to the diffraction grating or prism and pass the decomposed light to the detector.

5. Filter
In some optical spectrometers, filters are used to block high-order light to prevent interference signals and improve measurement accuracy. This filter can be used in the optical components we produce. If you are interested in these, please contact us.

Application scenarios of optical spectrometers

Optical spectrometers have a wide range of applications in many fields, including:

1. Chemical analysis: used to determine the concentration and type of different components in a sample, such as in environmental monitoring and food safety.

2. Biomedicine: used to analyze the spectral characteristics of biological samples, assist in disease diagnosis and detection of biomarkers.

3. Materials science: by analyzing the spectral characteristics of materials, understanding their structure and composition, and applying them to material development and quality control.

4. Astronomy: used to analyze the spectrum of starlight to help study the composition, temperature, and motion of stars.

Optical spectrometers have become an indispensable and important tool in scientific research and industrial applications with their efficient spectroscopic capabilities and wide range of applications.

We Mok Optics offers many types of optical components. If you have any questions about these products, please feel free to contact us.

Email: info@mokoptics.com​