spectroscopy

Traditional thinking is that compact spectrometers do not offer the sensitivity or speed needed to compete with benchtop fluorimeters for many fluorescence measurements. We explain how limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) are defined and measured, and challenge that preconception by demonstrating picomolar LOD for fluorescein with a compact, cost-effective spectrometer capable of capturing 50 ms scans with ease.

Fluorescence spectroscopy has been used to characterise natural organic matter (NOM) in water. Excitation-Emission maps reveal the nature and concentration of NOM in river water and can be used as a routine analysis technique in water treatment facilities.

The fluorescence excitation spectra of single organic molecules in a solid state crystal are measured at cryogenic temperatures using a single frequency tunable laser light source based on optical parametric oscillator technology. This laser exhibits promising features as a light source for spectroscopy applications, including a broad tuning range from 450 to 650 nm, narrow linewidth < 1 MHz and mode-hop-free tuning over > 25 GHz. This application note presents the experimental setup, measured spectra and discusses the applicability of this kind of laser for high-resolution spectroscopy.