Redefining terahertz precision.

Meeting the most demanding requirements in THz communications research, channel sounding, wafer inspection, and high-resolution spectroscopy.

Toptica Photonics has just launched the TeraScan ultra – an ultra-high-precision continuous-wave (cw) terahertz platform featuring comb-locked stability and unmatched spectral resolution down to 1 Hz.

This unit is designed to meet the most demanding requirements in THz communications research, channel sounding, wafer inspection, and high-resolution spectroscopy. With a bandwidth of up to 5 THz and ultra-low phase noise, it sets a new benchmark in the generation and control of tunable terahertz radiation.

At the heart of the system are two diode lasers – one tunable, one fixed – both locked to a single optical frequency comb. A photomixer emitter converts the optical beat signal into a tunable, monochromatic THz wave. Toptica’s proprietary “endless frequency shifter” ensures seamless frequency tuning while maintaining absolute control over phase and frequency – a crucial requirement for applications like photonic vector network analysis.

The system uses state-of-the-art InGaAs photomixers: a photodiode emitter and a Rh:InGaAs photomixer receiver, both packaged into compact, fiber-coupled modules. Operation modes include fixed frequency, sweep, and triggered step scan – fully software-controlled.

It is ideal for researchers who demand ultimate frequency stability, scanning flexibility, and sub-Hz phase coherence across the full terahertz spectrum.

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@TOPTICA_AG @PresseBox #Pauto #Photonics

Flammable gas detection sensors.

Crowcon Detection Instruments uses NevadaNano's Molecular Property Spectrometer™ (MPS™) sensors in their new Gasman flammable gas detection products. The new systems allow employees to rely on a single device to identify and alert them to the presence of 19 potentially dangerous gases in their work environment.

“NevadaNano is proud to provide the sensor technology for Crowcon’s ground-breaking Gasman personal monitors," said Ralph Whitten, President, and Member of Board of Directors, at NevadaNano. “Our MPS sensors deliver unprecedented accuracy in detecting multiple flammable gases simultaneously, creating a safer work environment and protecting employees’ health and safety.”

NevadaNano offers a variety of gas detection sensors for flammables, all of which deliver unprecedented reliability and accuracy. Unlike traditional sensors, a single MPS sensor accurately reports 0-100% LEL across 19 flammable gases, including hydrogen, with a single factory calibration and no field maintenance over their lifetime. This capability addresses the need for a flexible sensor platform suitable for complex industrial environments and offers life-saving accuracy in environments with blended combustible gases.

Integrated, real-time measurements and built-in compensation for temperature, pressure, and humidity ensures superb accuracy of the MPS flammable gas sensors. Gas concentration readings are accurate across the wide environmental range, including rapid environmental transients, delivering best-in-class false-positive accuracy. The company’s MPS sensors are inherently immune to drift, decay, or poisoning.

“Our reliable portable gas monitors now have the industry-leading sensor technology that your applications demand. Gasman flammable portable monitors with MPS sensors help reduce fleet maintenance, increase operational up-time, and lowers total cost of ownership,” said Ed Clapham, Portables Product Manager of Crowcon Detection Instruments. “More importantly, the innovative technology provides peace of mind by protecting workers in virtually any multi-gas environment.”

The Gasman with MPS is ATEX Zone 0 approved, allowing operators to enter areas where an explosive gas atmosphere is present continuously or for long periods without concern. In addition, the use of the MPS sensor quadruples the battery life as compared to legacy solutions, protecting workers for more extended periods. In addition, the Gasman with MPS is hydrogen (H2) ready. A single MPS sensor accurately detects hydrogen and common hydrocarbons without recalibration in a fail-safe, poison-resistant solution.

@Crowcon #nevadanano #PAuto 

Spectrum analyser.

A new Spectrum Analyzer MS9740B has been developed by Anritsu, for evaluating the output characteristics of optical active devices used by optical communications systems. The instrument keeps the same measurement-sensitivity performance, functions, and size as the predecessor MS9740A while shortening measurement processing times by 50%, further improving production-line efficiency by optimizing the Spectrum Analyzer MS9740B optical receiver bandwidth settings, most commonly used by customers. This performance upgrade slashes optical active device inspection times and increases mass production-line efficiency.

The spread of next-generation 5G mobile and Cloud communications services is expected to increase data traffic volumes massively. Networks supporting this infrastructure are experiencing explosive jumps in network traffic, which demands both increased module production and shorter inspection times to allow in-time delivery required for the rapid expansion and adoption of faster rate optical modules at 10G, 100G, and 400G bit.

Key features of The Optical Spectrum Analyzer MS9740B Wide dynamic range and high-speed measurement at optical receiver bandwidths used commonly by customers within production lines for optical active devices - SMSR measurement at 45 dB minimum - Fastest measurement speed (Sweeping in Fast mode; total time required for wavelength sweep, analysis, and data transfer to remote server) of 0.35s (sweeping 30-nm wavelength) Same key functions and performance as predecessor, supporting various production-line environments - Wide wavelength band (600 to 1750 nm) for evaluating all optical active devices - Nine application menus for LD-module, WDM, etc., measurements

The benchtop Optical Spectrum Analyzer MS9740B features wide dynamic range, high resolution, and fast sweep speeds over a wavelength range of 600 to 1750 nm. The device supports multimode fiber input and is ideal for manufacturing and evaluating 850-nm band VCSEL modules.

As well as keeping the same functions and performance as its predecessor, the MS9740B slashes measurement processing times by up to half (Rx bandwidth setting: 1 kHz or 200 Hz) while overcoming problems of decreased measurement sensitivity caused by increased processing speed.

Moreover, the MS9740B retains optical active device (LD-Module, DFB-LD, FP-LD, LED, WDM and Optical Amplifier (NF and Gain) measurement menu screens for evaluating devices. The device supports all-at-once measurements of key evaluation items, such as optical center wavelength, level, OSNR, spectrum width, etc., and displays these results on one screen.

@AnritsuEMEA  #TandM @NapierPR

Energy meter accessory!

The LP980 Transient Absorption Spectrometer from Edinburgh Instruments now offers calibrated, software-controlled energy meters to monitor experimental conditions in real time. The meters are fitted inside the sample chamber of the instrument and provide the energy of each individual excitation pulse, as well as the energy after the sample. This makes absorbance measurements and photobleaching tests easier than ever.

@Edinst #Pauto #TandM

Chromatography mass spectrometry event.

On day one (2nd November) of WWEM 2016, Environmental and Food Analysis SIG (EFASIG), a special interest group within the British Mass Spectrometry Society, will hold a meeting that will be free to attend for those that have pre-registered to visit WWEM 2016.

Professor Luigi Mondello

The keynote presentation with be given by Professor Luigi Mondello from the University of Messina in Italy. Prof. Mondello is the author of around 400 publications and his research interests include high-resolution chromatography techniques (HRGC, HPLC, HRGC-MS, HPLC-MS, OPLC) and the development of hyphenated (LC-GC-MS, GC-GC) and multidimensional ‘comprehensive’ (GC×GC, LC×LC) techniques and their application in the study of natural complex matrices.

The presentations will focus on the analysis of water and wastewater, but will include the analysis of liquid, liquid/solid mixtures and air samples. With speakers from academia, commercial laboratories and manufacturers, the morning session will address aspects of comprehensive Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, and the afternoon session will address the application of these techniques to water and environmental matrices.

Summarising, EFASIG Leader Dr Peter Baugh says: “We have managed to assemble a group of eminent and highly respected speakers, so these presentations will be of great value to anyone involved in environmental analysis.”

#spectrometry  #WWEM #Environment

Spectrometers help developing infrared lasers.

Research in optical materials is rapidly moving towards stable, high-power laser sources emitting in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) region. Despite their promising applications, there are currently not many commercially available lasers for this range of wavelengths (2 μm ‒ 8 μm). One of their main applications is in absorption spectroscopy for the detection of trace gases and atmospheric pollutants: many organic compounds have characteristic mid-IR bands, so the detection in this region is highly selective. There is also great potential for mid-IR lasers in the field of materials processing due to the strong absorption of some polymers in this region. In addition, human skin is a very efficient absorber at 3 μm thanks to a water band, which makes 3-μm lasers a powerful tool for surgery.

One of the first steps towards a commercially viable laser is to characterise the emission properties of the gain medium, which requires a spectrometer with detection in the mid-IR. Edinburgh Instruments mid-IR fluorescence spectrometers are currently used by leading scientists around the world to advance the research in laser materials.

One of Edinburgh Instruments’ mid-IR fluorescence spectrometers is in the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (China). Here, materials for solid-state mid-IR lasers such as rare earth-doped silicate or Cr,Fe:ZnSe have been successfully developed with help from an FLSP920 Spectrometer.

Near-IR lasers with emission near to 2 μm are also of great interest in medical imaging. Recently, a promising material with ~ 1.8 μm emission has been reported by the Changchun University of Science and Technology (China), also using an FLSP920 from Edinburgh Instruments.

Edinburgh Instruments offers an extensive range of IR detectors to characterise the spectra and lifetime of IR-emitting materials, with options to suit all budgets. The FLS980 spectrometer offers InGaAs detectors with cut-off wavelengths of 1.65 μm, 2.05 μm and 2.55 μm, InAs detectors (3.1 μm) and InSb (5.5 μm) detectors; as well as InGaAs detector arrays. The FS5 Spectrofluorometer has the NIRA+ option, covering up to 1650 nm.

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of state-of-the-art fluorescence spectroscopic instrumentation, we pride ourselves in being able to meet the most demanding research and technical requirements.

@Edinst #TandM #Pauto

Triplet-Exciton energy transfers research in North Carolina.

Researchers at North Carolina State University, led by Prof. Felix Castellano, have shown for the first time that the photogenerated triplet exciton in semiconductor nanocrystals can be harvested by surface bound molecular acceptors, exhibited by a six-order magnitude increase in the lifetime of the originally prepared excited state.

The research publication, featured in the prominent Science Magazine and titled “Direct observation of triplet energy transfer from semiconductor nanocrystals,” highlights the use of carefully constructed materials and multiple spectroscopic techniques to measure and characterize the triplet exciton energy transfer from cadmium selenide (CdSe) semiconductor nanocrystals, prepared by Prof. Mikhail Zamkov and his group at Bowling Green State University, and surface bound 9-anthacenecarboxylic acid (ACA).

To observe the lifetime differences of CdSe nanocrystals and the CdSe-ACA energy transfer construct, the researchers utilized an Edinburgh Instruments Transient Absorption Spectrometer and MiniTau Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometer; these instruments complimented the ultra-fast transient absorption experiments and allowed for the detailed measurements of the lifetime increases associated with the triplet exciton energy transfer. Prof. Castellano, a long-time user of Edinburgh Instruments spectrometers, complimented the instrumentation stating the Transient Absorption Spectrometer and MiniTau spectrometers have operated flawlessly since their installation and the results generated on behalf of this project (and all other photophysical projects) on nanosecond and longer time scales are always high quality, reproducible, and reliable.

Edinburgh Instruments is pleased to work with such premier research groups, and looks forward to working with all of its current and future customers to facilitate and excel their photophysical and photochemical measurements.

@Edinst #Research @NCState

Fluorescence spectrometer

Edinburgh Instruments has launched a new fluorescence spectrometer, the FS5, a fully integrated steady state spectrometer with single photon sensitivity, designed for the research and analytical market. The FS5 has a number of features that are unique in its class of fluorescence spectrometers they include: Ultimate single photon sensitivity throughout the specified spectral range, high data acquisition speed, comprehensive yet easy to operate software and an unmatched range of plug and play sample cassette options.

In addition to the standard version, the FS5 is offered with a number of options:

·        FS5-NIR with an extended wavelength coverage to 1000nm while maintaining the specified sensitivity in the UV and visible spectral range

·        FS5-MCS, a phosphorescence lifetime option with a lifetime range of microseconds-to-seconds

·        FS5-TCSPC, a fully integrated lifetime option for the measurement of fluorescence lifetimes from picoseconds to microseconds by Time Correlated Single Photon Counting

·        FS5-POL with fully automated polarisers in excitation and emission

·        Two further advanced options are available with an extended wavelength range to 1650nm and with time resolution down to 50ps.

The new FS5 is an extension of Edinburgh Instruments’ portfolio of state-of-the-art and reliable spectrometer products. The instrument has been designed with the background of more than 35 years of experience in the field of fluorescence spectroscopy, and is manufactured at the company’s base in the UK.

Commenting on the new product launch, Mark Vosloo, CEO of Edinburgh Instruments said:

“The FS5 opens up new market opportunities for Edinburgh Instruments. We have taken a new and fresh approach to analytical instrumentation and aim to satisfy the growing need for high performance but affordable research tools.”

50 years spectrometry

Analytik Jena UK will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the SPECORD® range of spectrophotometers at the Lab Innovations exhibition (6/7 Nov 2013 Birmingham GB) by showing the SPECORD® 210 Plus double beam UV/Vis instrument. The multi N/C 3100 and the multi N/C UV HS TOC analysers will also be on show, reflecting the fact that the company also has decades of experience in this field of analysis.

The versatile multi N/C series of analysers determine bound carbon content (TIC/TOC, TC, NPOC, POC) and/or total nitrogen (TNb) and are characterised by patented innovative solutions for reliable automation to cope with the most diverse sample matrices. The two versions on display feature the latest focus radiation NDIR detector and VITA flow management system for reliable results, high stability and improved long-term instrument calibration performance.

The multi N/C 3100 is a versatile analyser using high temperature catalytic combustion and can be configured for simultaneous TOC/ TNb determination. Combustion temperatures up to 950°C provide quick and reliable digestion of even the most stable compounds and for the most challenging applications. The multi N/C UV HS provides low cost sample digestion by UV-supported wet chemical oxidation for very high sensitivity and a wide dynamic range. This provides trace TOC analysis capabilities as well as high concentrations and it is particularly well suited to the analysis of drinking water.

The SPECORD® 210 PLUS UV/Vis spectrometer features 5 variable spectral bandwidths, making it ideally suited for measurement of solutions and solids where high optical resolution is required. Intelligent instrument control is provided by the modular WinASPECT® software package.

Partnering to comercialise NIR spectrometer system!

Bayer Technology Services (BTS) and KROHNE signed a distribution agreement to commercialise the SpectroBAY inline NIR spectrometer system. The agreement comprises the worldwide marketing and sales of the analytical system in the chemical processing industry (CPI) outside the Bayer group through KROHNE.

Dr. Klaus Sommer (L), Senior Vice President
& Head of Customer & Product Management
 Bayer Technology Services, with Stephan
Neuburger, Managing Director Krohne.

SpectroBAY is an in-line optical spectrometer system that uses near-infrared wavelengths (NIR) to determine the composition of liquids, solids and gases in real time. The information about the composition of process streams can be used for closed loop control. By knowing the composition at any time, chemical producers can operate their process at the chemical and economical optimum with as high yield as possible. Applications for the SpectroBAY range from incoming chemicals (reactants, catalysts etc.), chemicals being converted (reaction tracking) to quality/purity analysis of final products. Since its development in 2001, the system has gained a track history of more than 400 applications with over 600 measuring points in chemical plants worldwide.

Due to the large success as a compact optical analysis system which can even be applied in explosive areas, BTS decided to make SpectroBAY available outside the Bayer group. Out of an assessment that included 30 companies, KROHNE was chosen to become the exclusive sales partner in the CPI.

“We have been working with KROHNE on many projects for quite some time. With KROHNE we have chosen a partner with a very good fit of company cultures, a strong track record of bringing technologies into the market and very good access to customers in Europe, NAFTA and China which we will be focusing on first” says Dr. Klaus Sommer, Senior Vice President and Head of Customer and Product Management at Bayer Technology Services.

Stephan Neuburger, Managing Director KROHNE Group, adds: “Efficiency is the key-word of our times, hence plant owners and operators desperately need real-time measurement and control. They cannot afford to not exploit the full and entire plant capacity. So large plants are increasingly upgraded with NIR spectrometer systems. SpectroBAY represents a new flagship product in our analysis portfolio for this market. In addition, BTS will benefit from our proven experience as well as from our well-established and diversified customer relationships worldwide.”

New technology for onsite ‘lab analysis’ for Ireland & Britain

Torion Technologies (USA) has appointed  Quantitech (GB) to distribute a unique portable gas chromatograph toroidal ion trap mass spectrometer (GC-TMS), in the territories of Ireland and Britain.

The TRIDION™-9 is the world’s fastest and most portable GC-MS. Combining a high speed GC with a miniaturised TMS in a lightweight, field-portable instrument, the TRIDION™-9 is designed to rapidly detect an enormous variety of chemical compounds in the field.

The agreement provides Quantitech with exclusive rights to all non-security markets, which MD Keith Golding believes will provide opportunities in a wide variety of sectors: “The collection and distribution of environmental samples for laboratory analysis is an expensive, time-consuming activity which can incur substantial delays. So, the ability to conduct fast laboratory-grade analysis on-site, is a tremendous advantage and one which features highly in many of the new technologies that we are bringing to the market.

“In addition to environmental applications, we believe that the TRIDION™-9 will also provide unique advantages in any situation requiring fast, on-site, high quality analytical data – quality control in the food sector, for example.”

The TRIDION™-9 is able to analyse gaseous, liquid or solid samples, and a range of CUSTODION® solid phase microextraction (SPME) syringes have been developed to provide this flexibility.

Simple to operate and able to produce results in under 3 minutes, the TRIDION™-9 can be operated with the unit’s touchscreen display, and CHROMION™ operating software facilitates configuration, data display and processing.

Low temperature fluorescence spectroscopy

Liquid nitrogen and liquid helium cryostats are available as part of the range of temperature-controlled accessories for the FLS980 and FLS920 series of photoluminescence spectrometers from Edinburgh Photonics. Fully field retrofittable, these cryostats allow fluorescence measurements and temperature maps to be made over the temperature ranges 77-300K and 4.2-325K respectively. Versions with an upper temperature of 500K are also available.

Low temperature operation allows researchers to benefit from enhanced fluorescence intensities. Temperature maps can be generated by acquiring a series of emission, excitation, synchronous and anisotropy scans over a predefined temperature range. The individual measurements are automatically started when the target temperatures are reached.

All cryostats are supplied complete with controller and chamber adapter. The spectrometer software communicates with the cryostat controller to allow families of temperature dependent steady state and life- time data to be acquired under computer control.

Fluorescence spectrometer

The FLS980 fluorescence spectrometer just launched by Edinburgh Photonics is for steady state, lifetime and phosphorescence measurements in photophysics, photochemistry, biophysics, biochemistry and semiconductor physics. Building on the success of the well-established FLS920 instrument, the FLS980 is a high performance, fully automated modular spectrometer for use in both fundamental research and routine laboratory applications. Improved sensitivity, sample handling, optics and control and analysis software are combined in an instrument that offers outstanding technical performance and flexibility for luminescence spectroscopy.

Enhanced optics include high stray light rejection monochromators, a 3-fold increase in monochromator options, and computer-controlled filter wheels for higher order removal to allow accurate measurement of spectra without higher order distortion. Instrument sensitivity is doubled compared to the FLS920, with a S/N of 12000:1 measured on the Raman spectrum of distilled water using single monochromators. This allows measurements of even lower sample concentrations and the use of smaller sample volumes.

Instrument modularity is reflected in a large sample chamber with 6-axis access to the sample and an improved ‘plug and play’ system of sample holders. A wide choice of sample holders allows easy configuration of the instrument for specific applications. With an extensive range of laser light sources, flashlamps and detectors available for the FLS980, spectral measurements can be made from 200nm to 5µm and with time resolution from a few picoseconds through to seconds.

A single, ultrafast data acquisition module accommodates any combination of light sources and detectors and provides easy set up and operation for Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC), Multi-channel scaling (MCS) and spectral scanning alike.

A new, fully integrated, user friendly software package provides hardware control, performance monitoring, data acquisition, data analysis and data manipulation for all measurement modes. Full software set up and reconfiguration of sample holder options is provided. With advanced correction, measurement and analysis facilities, experiments can be readily designed from the PC. USB connectivity between the spectrometer and the PC brings fast data processing, module control and operation. Live profiles can be observed on screen as they are acquired before data manipulation and analysis.

Dance of the molecules!

Laser manufacturer nanoplus uses Yokogawa spectrum analyser for spectral characterisation of distributed feedback lasers

German laser manufacturer nanoplus is using the Yokogawa AQ6375 optical spectrum analyser to verify the high spectral quality of its distributed feedback (DFB) lasers using a spectral characterisation technique based on molecular excitation.

The nanoplus DFB lasers are used for highly accurate detection of trace gases in gas mixtures: a topic that is of great interest in many different areas. For example, the detection of gas leaks and monitoring of the concentrations of explosive gases can help avoid potential disasters. In addition, the analysis of gases in industrial processes allows the optimisation of operating parameters - possibly to minimise the risk of producing undesired end products, such as carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion. Even on space missions trace gas analysis is used for the exploration of remote planets.

A highly accurate method for the detection of gases in low concentrations is based on the use of laser light. This technique relies on the fact that each type of gas molecule has distinctive vibrational and rotational states which can be excited by a specific quantity of energy. With a laser that emits photons of this exact energy, specific molecules inside a gas mixture can be stimulated to "dance". This process can be observed indirectly by measuring the amount of laser light being absorbed by the gas molecules, depending on their concentration.

To achieve high accuracy in the absorption measurement, a laser is required that emits light only at the energy (and hence frequency) that is relevant for the gas type being examined. The frequency of such a single-mode laser can then be tuned extremely precisely around the molecule's absorption frequency by a variation of the operating current.

nanoplus develops single-mode lasers which make use of a patented technology for distributed feedback (DFB). For this technique, metal gratings with dimensions in the 100 nm range are patterned next to ridge structures in semiconductor material using electron-beam lithography. The grating structure acts as a filter for the DFB laser's resonator modes, allowing only one frequency/wavelength to pass with low loss.

To verify the high spectral quality of the lasers, nanoplus uses an AQ6375 optical spectrum analyser from Yokogawa. This instrument offers the great advantage that its accessible spectral range extends well beyond typical wavelengths for telecommunications (around 1700 nm). As a result, the instrument can be used to characterise DFB laser products, for example, for an application in the sensing of water vapour (around 1877 nm), carbon dioxide (2004 nm) and carbon monoxide (2332 nm).

With the AQ6375, the individual Fabry-Pérot laser modes can be clearly resolved. In addition, the high dynamic range enables the demonstration of single-mode laser operation with a side-mode suppression ratio of more than 50 dB. The detection of trace gases with concentrations of less than one part per billion in a gas mixture can be achieved with these high-quality DFB lasers. This sensitivity can be compared to finding a single person out of the entire population of China (a population well beyond a billion people) - or even finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.

To achieve a high throughput of characterised lasers, nanoplus uses a fully automated test setup using the GPIB interface of the AQ6375. Despite the relatively complex measurement process, the test setup allows for a quick determination of the lasers' tuning properties at different chip temperatures and operating currents. The lasers are tested in the range from 1200 to 2400 nm before they are supplied to the customers, according to their applications.

One nanoplus laser, for example, is currently on board the NASA "Curiosity" rover on its way to Mars, with the intention to detect traces of water, methane and carbon dioxide - millions of kilometres away from Earth.

Observing carbon nanotube research!

Researchers at Duke University (Jaehong Park, Pravas Deria and Michael J. Therien, J Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 17156–17159) have utilised the LP920 laser flash photolysis spectrometer from Edinburgh Instruments to experimentally observe excited triplet states of individualised single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) for the first time. These SWNT triplet excitons have lifetimes of the order of microseconds, differing vastly the picosecond lifetimes characteristic of the well-known SWNT singlet excitons. This research provides new insights into the fundamental photophysical processes of 1-dimensional carbon-based nanostructures.

SWNTs facilitate ballistic charge transport and fast singlet exciton migration over long distances; such properties are highly useful for electronic and photonic devices. The experimental identification of the SWNT triplet exciton state expands significantly the scope of nanotube electron and energy migration reactions that can be exploited.

Nanosecond pump-probe transient absorption spectroscopic experiments of purified, polymer wrapped SWNTs in a variety of solvents was carried out using the LP920 laser flash photolysis spectrometer equipped with the L900 software for control and data acquisition. A previously unidentified transient absorption band at 1150 nm is shown to correspond to a SWNT T1 to Tn transition; the lifetime of the SWNT triplet excited state was found to be 17.4 and 6.5 µs, respectively, in D2O and DMSO solvents.

In this study, (6,5)-chirality enriched semiconducting SWNTs that were helically wrapped by an aryleneethynylene polymer monolayer at periodic and constant morphology, were utilised. These polymer-wrapped SWNTs maintain uniform structural morphology in both D2O and DMSO solvents, and provide versatile constructs in which to probe nanotube triplet exciton states.

The LP920 laser flash photolysis spectrometer is a fully automated turnkey solution for the reliable and accurate measurement of transient absorption either in spectral and/or kinetic mode. It has a large sample chamber to house a variety of sample holders.

Specrometer & sensor company celebrates 40 years

Edinburgh Instruments celebrates its 40th anniversary with a restructuring of the company to focus on two clearly defined business areas. Their new Photonics and Sensors divisions will spearhead sales of existing and new products to the scientific R&D communities, commercial research, environmental monitoring and process industries.

Managing director, Alan Faichney, said: “The company is proud of its glittering list of scientific and instrumentation innovations and achievements through its 40 year history and our highly talented and innovative in-house Research & Development team continues to deliver leading edge products and technology. Chief Scientific Officer and original founder of Edinburgh Instruments, Professor Desmond Smith, recently received the Royal Society of Edinburgh Royal Medal in recognition for his work in physics research, especially in optoelectronics, spectroscopy and laser technology, and its application in industry and research technology.”

“In the field of photonic laser and spectroscopy instrumentation, Edinburgh Instruments is a pioneer of Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) and an innovator in the development of continuous wave infrared gas lasers”, he continued. “Our current product range includes the FLS920, the world’s most sensitive spectrofluorimeter, offering combined steady state and TCSPC fluorescence lifetime capabilities. Laser products include highly stable infrared gas lasers for applications such as atmospheric monitoring and gas spectroscopy; far infrared (terahertz) lasers and semi-conductor lasers including picosecond pulsed diode lasers and LEDs primarily for spectroscopy.”

The company’s Sensors Division designs and manufactures high quality, reliable sensors and monitoring systems for gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane and refrigerants using non-dispersive infrared technology. These support a wide range of market segments and applications ranging from process control and gas delivery to personal safety, horticulture and landfill gas measurement. Gas Sensors are available in either OEM format for integration into a customer system or as a complete monitor providing simple continuous monitoring and control of gas concentration levels.

‘The company’s expertise in NDIR gas detection technology stretches back to the early 1980s”, commented Alan Faichney. “This rich history of product development and applications experience is the springboard as we bring new gas sensor products to market. With a strong order book worldwide for both Photonics and Sensors divisions, we look forward to the next 40 years!” he concluded.

Fibre adaptor improves optical input of spectrum analysers

A new adaptor for use with the Yokogawa AQ6370 Series of optical spectrum analysers (OSAs) is designed to enhance the sensitivity, dynamic range and level stability by reducing the divergence of light emitted from the input fibre and increasing the input signal to the OSA by 5 dB.

The light that is emitted from an optical fibre is divergent, and under normal conditions the limited size of the optics inside the OSA monochromator results in divergent light being blocked, and hence unable to contribute to a strong optical signal.

Using the new fibre NA adaptor on a GI50/125 multi-mode fibre results in the fibre's numerical aperture (NA) value being divided by two. The reduction in divergence of the optical input increases the monochromator optical throughput, producing a 5 dB (factor 3) increase in signal strength.

The result of this enhancement in performance is better dynamic range in passive component testing and better level stability in active device testing.

The Yokogawa AQ6370 Series of optical spectrum analysers offer the world's 'best in class' optical performance combined with excellent functionality and operability for applications including R&D and production testing of optical devices and transmission systems.

Covering the wavelength range from 350 to 2400 nm and applicable to both single-mode and multimode fibres, the AQ6370 Series provides unprecedented optical performance, including high wavelength accuracy of ±0.01 nm, high wavelength resolution of 0.02 nm, ultra-high dynamic range of 78 dB (typical), wide level range of -90 dBm, and fast sweep speed of 0.2 sec/100 nm.

Reliable and efficient sulfur detection in proteins

 Lucía López Fernández and Daniel J. Kutscher, members of the Analytical Spectrometry Research Group at the University of Oviedo use Thermo Scientific ICP-MS for sulfur detection in proteins

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that the University of Oviedo’s analytical spectrometry research group has implemented the Thermo Scientific XSERIES 2 ICP-MS to perform reliable and interference-free sulfur detection in proteins. In the past, interference from gas-based polyatomics has made the accurate determination of sulfur isotopes particularly challenging for the research group. The XSERIES 2 ICP-MS has overcome these issues, offering high levels of accuracy while also optimizing the efficiency of analyses.

The analytical spectrometry research group at the University of Oviedo (ES) aims to solve the analytical challenges encountered by science and technology. Within this framework, a small sub-group has been established focusing on the development of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) based analytical methods for the quantification of biopolymers such as DNA and proteins. One of the principal issues faced by the group is the interference from gas-based polyatomics such as oxygen in the determination of sulfur when using a low resolution instrument. To eliminate these problems, the group selected the Thermo Scientific XSERIES 2 ICP-MS with collision/reaction cell technology (CRC).

Quantitative protein analysis is currently one of the most demanding applications in analytical chemistry. Mass spectrometric techniques such as electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) have traditionally played a key role in protein analysis. However, the potential of ICP-MS has recently been recognized for the determination of proteins. Although ICP-MS detection does not provide any structural information, its outstanding capability to quantify most of the elements proves valuable for accurate protein quantification. Keeping pace with the latest technological developments, the University of Oviedo’s research group has coupled the XSERIES 2 ICP-MS with a reversed-phase capillary liquid chromatography (μLC) system to facilitate precise determination of sulfur isotopes in standard proteins.

Dr. Jörg Bettmer of the University of Oviedo’s analytical spectrometry research group comments, “The Thermo Scientific XSERIES 2 ICP-MS was chosen because no other quadrupole-based system matches its capabilities in terms of accuracy, reliability and overall efficiency. The implementation of the instrument has allowed us to achieve reliable, interference-free detection of sulfur isotopes. It has enabled us to determine sulfur-containing standard proteins in an accurate and efficient manner that had not been previously possible.”

The XSERIES 2 offers outstanding productivity in a quadrupole ICP-MS for both routine and high-performance analytical applications. By using the system, laboratories can achieve their analytical objectives faster, with greater confidence and less hands-on time from the operator. The innovative ion lens design of the instrument enables simple field upgrade to collision cell technology (CCT) performance without affecting the normal (non-CCT mode) sensitivity or background. The cell is also compatible with a range of reactive gases, such as pure oxygen for interference suppression in challenging matrices.

Optical spectrum analyser offers 'best in class' optical performance

Yokogawa's AQ6370C combines exceptional accuracy and resolution with ultra-high dynamic range, comprehensive interfacing and ease of use

The new AQ6370C is an optical spectrum analyser offering the world's 'best in class' optical performance combined with excellent functionality and operability for applications including R&D and production testing of optical devices and transmission systems.It comes from the Yokogawa T&M stable.

Covering the wavelength range from 600 to 1700nm and applicable to both single-mode and multimode fibres, it provides unprecedented optical performance, including high wavelength accuracy of ±0.01 nm, high wavelength resolution of 0.02 nm, ultra-high dynamic range of 78 dB (typical), wide level range of -90 dBm, and fast sweep speed of 0.2 sec/100 nm.

Enhanced functionality and operability are provided by a large, bright LCD screen, easy operation via panel keys and a mouse, four USB ports including memory, mouse and keyboard interfaces, and high-speed GPIB and Ethernet remote interfaces. The instrument also has a built-in wavelength reference source and a range of integral analysis functions.

The ultra-high dynamic range (typically 80 dB) results from an enhanced stray-light suppression ratio in the monochromator, and results in reduced measurement times. The higher-performance model can also achieve a higher dynamic range within 0.2 nm of the peak wavelength. With the sharper spectral characteristics of the monochromator, spectral signals in close proximity can be separated clearly and measured accurately.

The wide level range from +20 dBm to -90 dBm means that the AQ6370C can measure high power sources such as optical amplifiers and pump lasers for Raman amplifiers as well as very weak optical signals. Measurement sensitivity can be selected from seven categories according to the application and measurement speed requirement.

In addition to improved level sensitivity of -85 dBm (from 1000 to 1300 nm), the AQ6370C incorporates a smoothing function to reduce noise on the measured spectrum and a high dynamic mode which obtains a better dynamic range by reducing the influence of stray light caused when the input is a strong optical signal.

The free space input allows multimode and single-mode fibre measurements to be carried out on the same instrument. In addition, the low insertion loss for multimode fibre available with the AQ6370C also helps to maintain the excellent measurement efficiency. The low insertion-loss variation at the input connector increases the measurement repeatability, and the lack of physical contact means that no damage is incurred in connecting the fibres. An APC level correction function is also included to correct the level offset resulting from the insertion loss of an angled PC (physical contact) connector.
With an advanced monochromator, faster electrical circuits, and noise reduction techniques, the AQ6370C achieves high measurement speed even when measuring a steep spectrum from DFB-LD or DWDM signals, or when measuring a low-power signal from a broadband light source. Efficiency is further enhanced by the high-speed Ethernet and GP-IB remote interfaces.

A combination of wide span sweep with high resolution results from the availability of 50,001 data sampling points, which makes measurements easier and more efficient. Ease of operation also benefits from the ability to carry out trace zooming and the combination of mouse and keyboard operation.
USB interfaces support large-capacity removable memory and hard disk drives in addition to the 512 Mbyte of internal memory: sufficient for over 20,000 traces. Data handling is further eased by the 'all at once' trace filing, which allows all seven traces to be saved simultaneously in one file.

Analysis functions include calculations between traces, maximum/minimum hold, and 13 spectral analysis functions for popular applications such as spectral width analysis, WDM analysis, filter analysis and LED analysis. A macro programming function allows multiple analyses to be combined and executed automatically as well as forming the basis for building automated test systems.
The AQ6370C can compensate for ambient condition changes, vibration and shock through a combination of the built-in wavelength reference source, a wavelength calibration function and an optical alignment function.

The overall high performance of the AQ6370C allows it to be used for both R&D and manufacturing tests on optical devices and systems including active devices such as lasers, amplifiers and transceivers, passive devices such as filters and fibres, and optical transmission equipment for DWDM and CWDM transmission.

Two versions of the AQ6370C are available, differing only in wavelength accuracy and dynamic range: the standard AQ6370C-10 and the higher-performance AQ6370-20.

Metals analysis

New integrated OES and X-ray solution for rapid and accurate metals Analysis
Thermo Fisher Scientific has launched an integrated solution for the metals industry combining the power of wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) with optical emission spectrometry (OES). The solution optimizes the their ARL OPTIM'X WDXRF slag analyzer in combination with the 3460 Advantage OES metals analyzer. This unique pairing for foundries and metal processing companies offers effective analyses of metallurgic slags and alloys by WDXRF, and quick and accurate investigation of solid metals by OES. With this new Thermo Scientific product offering primary and secondary metals producers are able to utilize two techniques at once and undertake total quality analyses with ease.

Thermo Scientific products offer the most comprehensive systems for the complete analysis of metals and non-metals in iron and steel production. OES provides rapid analysis of carbon and low nitrogen along with all other alloying elements in irons and steel while XRF offers most reliable and repeatable analysis of metallurgical slags, raw materials, including iron ores and sinters and cast irons. In addition, XRF assures high repeatability which makes the technique effective for the control of major elements and expensive alloying elements.

The ARL OPTIM'X spectrometer is a compact, cost effective and reliable XRF solution for all non-metallic samples as well as major and minor elements in metals. As well as providing lowest cost of ownership for a WDXRF instrument with practically no peripheral support (neither internal nor external water cooling, nor compressed air), the ARL OPTIM'X slag analyzer allows quick sample preparation and fast analysis. In addition to common oxides such as CaO, SiO2, MgO, Na2O, Al2O3, S, K2O, Fe2O3, the instrument is capable of analyzing fluorine in slags wherever needed. Slags can be analyzed both as directly cast slags and as pressed pellets after grinding and pelletization. Fusion beads can also be used for ultimate accuracy and control.

The ARL 3460 Advantage spectrometer is one of the most established OES instruments in the metals industry. Based on decades of experience and continuous improvements, this instrument provides an ideal solution for foundries and metal producers. Offering increased reliability and stability, the ARL 3460 Advantage ensures trouble-free operation with minimal maintenance costs over the entire lifetime of the instrument. With optical configuration optimized to cover most of the analytical requirements in a foundry, users benefit from the highest quality technology to ensure improved metals analysis in terms of quality and productivity in addition to low operational costs.

The ARL OPTIM'X and ARL 3460 Advantage are delivered with factory calibrations for immediate operation and use. Both instruments are driven by Thermo Scientific Windows 7-based OXSAS analytical software helping the user quickly learn and operate the two instruments. Comprehensive training can be provided on both instruments after installation eliminating the need for two separate interventions. They can also be fully automated with ARL SMS solutions for on-line unattended analysis when fast 24/7 throughput is required.