What is a Sapphire Attenuated Total Reflectance (SATR) Probe?

Mar 19, 2017 | Glossary of Spectroscopy Terms, Sampling

The SATR probes take advantage of the high refractive index of sapphire to consistently generate total internal reflection at the interface between the probe and the sample. When a beam is reflected through total internal reflection, an evanescent wave with the same...

What are Ground and Excited States?

Mar 19, 2017 | Glossary of Spectroscopy Terms, Properties of Light

When talking about energy levels, the lowest level is called the ground state. At room temperature, everything (electrons, vibrations, etc.) is in the ground state. If the atoms or molecules can absorb energy, they can be promoted into a higher energy level, called an...

What is intensity of light?

Mar 19, 2017 | Characterization, Glossary of Spectroscopy Terms

When talking about light, intensity is the power per unit area when the light is transmitted through a (real or imaginary) flat surface that is perpendicular to the direction of the beam. It is usually represented by the symbol I and common units are W/m2 or W/cm2. At...

What is a Spectrometer?

Feb 26, 2017 | Glossary of Spectroscopy Terms, StellarNet Definition

What is a Spectrometer? A spectrometer is an instrument used to measure and analyze light as a function of wavelength. By separating light into its individual wavelengths, a spectrometer can reveal information about the composition, properties, and behavior of...

What are Raman Probes?

Feb 26, 2017 | Glossary of Spectroscopy Terms, Sampling

Raman probes are devices that use fibers to deliver the excitation laser beam to the sample and collect the signal, allowing for more flexibility with the sample holder. Raman probes can be adjusted to have additional probe tips for adjusting working distances as well...