TE-Cooled Spectrometer with Extended InGaAs Detector: Sol 2.2A

B&W Tek’s Sol™ 2.2A is a high-performance linear InGaAs array spectrometer that features 256 pixels and offers a wide dynamic range and high throughput, with TE cooling down to −15 °C through an integrated three-stage cooler.

All spectrometers feature a built-in 16-bit digitizer and an SMA 905 fiber optic input, while being USB 2.0 plug-and-play compatible. The integrated autozero function automatically decreases dark non-uniformity and dark current, leading to an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio.

Software control enables users to select from four kinds of operation modes—Maximum Sensitivity, Maximum Dynamic, High Sensitivityand High Dynamic. Besides this, custom-made spectral resolution and application support are available.

Applications

On-line analyzer

Quality control

NIR spectroscopy

Process monitoring

Material identification

Features

Thermoelectric cooling of −15 °C

Spectral range from 900 to 2200 nm

Integrated autozero (noise level reduction)

Excellent resolution of 9.0 nm

Four sensitivity and dynamic range modes to suit particular application requirements

Accessories

Fiber sample holders

Fiber patch cords

Fiber sampling probes

Light sources

Thermoelectric Cooler

An effective way to decrease noise and dark current is to cool an array detector with an integrated thermoelectric cooler (TEC). This method also improves the dynamic range and detection limit.

When the TEC is used to cool the InGaAs array detector from a room temperature of 25 °C down to −15 °C, the dark current is decreased by approximately 32 times, while the dark noise is decreased by around 5.7 times. This enables the spectrometer to detect weaker optical signals and function at longer exposure times.

Specifications

Table 1. Source: B&W Tek

Spectrograph

Image Credit: B&W Tek

Entrance Slit

Table 2. Source: B&W Tek

Diffraction Grating

Table 3. Source: B&W Tek

Software

The spectral data acquisition software, BWSpec^®, features a broad range of tools developed to execute complex calculations and measurements at the touch of a button. The software enables users to select between multiple data formats and optimize scanning parameters, like the integration time.

Besides powerful data processing and data acquisition, the BWSpec^® includes other features like manual/automatic baseline correction, spectrum smoothingand automatic dark removal.

Image Credit: B&W Tek