The basic function of any spectrometer is to take in light, break it into its spectral components, digitize the signal as a function of wavelength, and read it out and display it via a computer. From this information, we can often deduce a great deal of additional insight, including: Molecular identities –. An optical spectrometer, like the Ossila USB spectrometer, is the most common type. They take light, separate it by wavelength and create a spectrum which shows the relative intensity of these separate wavelengths. Spectrometers have a wide range of applications and uses. Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA). People are starting to realize the advanced flexibility and utility offered by their compatibility with a range of sampling accessories and their. The focus of this chapter is on the interaction of ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation with matter. For convenience we will use the simpler term.
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