The Sol™ 2.6 is a high performance linear InGaAs array spectrometer featuring 256 pixels and providing high throughput and large dynamic range with TE Cooling down to -15°C via a built-in 3-stage cooler.  Each spectrometer features an SMA 905 fiber optic input, built-in 16-bit digitizer, and is USB 2.0 plug-and-play compatible. The built-in autozero function automatically reduces dark current and dark non-uniformity, resulting in an increased signal-to-noise ratio. Software control allows the user to choose from four types of operation modes: Maximum Dynamic, High Dynamic, High Sensitivity, and Maximum Sensitivity. Customized spectral resolution and application support are also available.

Applications

• Process Monitoring
• NIR Spectroscopy
• Quality Control
• On-line Analyzer
• Biological Applications

Features

• 1550nm - 2550nm* Spectral Range
• Built-in Autozero (Noise Level Reduction)
• Built-in 16-bit Digitizer
• Low Dark Noise and High Sensitivity
• Four Sensitivity & Dynamic Range Modes for Specific Application Needs

1. Fiber Coupler

Secures Fiber to Ensure Repeatable Results
By coupling a fiber optic to the SMA 905 adaptor, light will be guided to the slit and optically matched, ensuring reproducibility. For free space sampling, a diffuser or lens assembly can be connected directly to the SMA 905 adaptor.

2. Entrance Slit

Determines Photon Flux and Spectral Resolution
Light entering into a spectrometer’s optical bench is vignetted by a pre-mounted and aligned slit. This ultimately determines the spectral resolution and throughput of the spectrometer after grating selection. The Sol™ 2.6 has a slit width of 75μm with custom slits available.

3. Collimating Mirror

Collimates and Redirects Light Towards Grating
Both mirrors are f/# matched focusing mirrors coated with a special coating, which enhances the NIR signal.

4. Diffraction Grating

Diffracts Light, Separating Spectral Components
The groove frequency of the grating determines two key aspects of the spectrometer’s performance: the wavelength coverage and the spectral resolution. When the groove frequency is increased, the instrument will achieve higher resolution, but the wavelength coverage will decrease. Inversely, decreasing the groove frequency increases wavelength coverage at the cost of spectral resolution.

The blaze angle or blaze wavelength of the grating is also a key parameter in optimizing the spectrometer’s performance. The blaze angle determines the maximum efficiency that the grating will have in a specific wavelength region.

5. Focusing Mirror

Refocuses Dispersed Light onto Detector
Both mirrors are f/# matched focusing mirrors coated with a special coating, which enhances the NIR signal.

6. Array Detector

Measures Entire Spectrum Simultaneously
The Sol™ 2.6 features a 256 x 1 TE Cooled linear InGaAs photo diode array detector with pixel dimensions of 50μm x 250μm and 256 active pixels. Using BWSpec™, the detector mode can be switched between two sensitivity and two dynamic modes, allowing for greater control over the detector’s sensitivity.

7. Thermoelectric Cooler

Reduces Dark Noise and Improves Detection Limits
Cooling an array detector with a built-in thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is an effective way to reduce dark current and noise, as well as to enhance the dynamic range and detection limit.

When the InGaAs array detector is cooled from a room temperature of 25°C down to -15°C by the TEC, the dark current is reduced by ~32 times and the dark noise is reduced by ~5.7 times. This allows the spectrometer to operate at longer exposure times and to detect weaker optical signals.