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Emission Spectroscopic Boundary Layer Investigation during Ablative Material Testing in Plasmatron

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Self-consistent algorithm for calibrating spectrometers to picometer accuracy over the entire wavelength range.

Edith Perret¹, Tobias E Balmer, Manfred Heuberger

¹Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland. edith.perret@psi.ch

Applied Spectroscopy

|October 8, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a novel nonlinear wavelength calibration method using a Fabry-Perot structure and an iterative algorithm. The technique achieves picometer precision, enhancing accuracy by over twofold, especially in limited spectral ranges.

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Area of Science:

Spectroscopy
Optical Engineering
Metrology

Background:

Accurate spectrometer calibration is crucial for diverse scientific and industrial applications.
Conventional calibration methods using limited spectral lines, especially in narrow spectral ranges, often lead to inaccuracies.
Existing techniques struggle to provide high-precision wavelength calibration across the entire spectrometer range.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a high-precision nonlinear wavelength calibration method for spectrometers.
To overcome the limitations of conventional calibration in small spectral ranges.
To achieve picometer-level accuracy over the full spectrometer range.

Main Methods:

Utilizing a Fabry-Perot multilayer structure to generate multiple transmission maxima under broad-band illumination.
Employing a calibration lamp with two or more reference lines.
Implementing an iterative algorithm for self-consistent calibration.

Main Results:

Achieved picometer precision wavelength calibration over the full spectrometer range.
Enhanced accuracy by at least a factor of two in regions distant from calibration lines compared to conventional methods.
Demonstrated a robust method for nonlinear wavelength calibration.

Conclusions:

The proposed method significantly improves spectrometer calibration accuracy, particularly in challenging spectral regions.
The integration of a Fabry-Perot structure offers a versatile solution for high-precision optical measurements.
This technique provides a pathway to more reliable and accurate spectroscopic data across various applications.