Spectrometers find their application in various fields. Without them, most of the breakthrough discoveries scientists made would have been non-existent. The field of spectroscopy plays a vital role in our human history. It helped us understand distant stars and how light interacts with other particles.
Eventually, it lead to modern science that measures the properties of different objects using light. In this blog, we will discuss all you need to know about a spectrometer and what it can do for you.
What is a Spectrometer?
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It is a broad term used for instruments that measure the physical characteristics of an object. There are many kinds and they find their application in a broad spectrum of industries.
However, there are three most common types well-known to many. They are:
- Optical spectrometers
- Mass spectrometers
- NMR spectrometers.
The popular one among the three is the optical one. Many schools have this as a part of their practical classes too.
The goal of the device is always to measure a specific aspect of a physical phenomenon. For example, you can measure the wavelength of the light from any source using the right set of instruments. They do that by analyzing the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible range.
Ways in which you can use a spectrometer
1. Production of displays
Tech companies have made several innovations over the years in improving the displays such as OLEDs and LCDs. Everything from smartphones to TVs now has displays that can produce more vibrant colors. Using spectrometers, these companies mass produce these displays with consistent qualities.
2. Manufacturing controllable LEDs
Measuring the lights enables you to change the parameters with accurate precision. LEDs and SSL have now attained higher levels of tuneability. It is because of the ability of the spectrometers to accurately measure color, intensity, and spectral distribution.
3. Analysis of materials
Under the ‘What is a spectrometer’ section, we quoted an example of how you can use them to analyze a light source. Similarly, you can pass the light of known wavelength through various materials to understand their structure. The scattering, reflection, and absorption of light give you information about the internal arrangement of atoms in a material. Thus, letting you analyze the various physical properties of the material.
They even find applications in astronomy for understanding different planets, stars, and other cosmic entities.
4. Understanding chemical reactions
In a typical chemical reaction, many elements bond together to form the final product. However, there were limitations in ways to estimate how every individual element interacts with each other. With a spectrometer, you can easily identify the various reactions happening throughout the process.
These help you determine how every variable in the reaction affects the outcome. The Raman spectroscopy method is one of the most famous methods of monitoring chemical reactions. This method can precisely understand the molecular bond structure and identify the materials quickly.
5. Identification of proteins
You can also use spectrometers to identify different types of proteins. It helps in characterizing the proteins and how each interacts with the different lipids, membranes, and organs.
With compact spectrometers, you can integrate the measuring capability of spectrometers into many instruments. Thus, the applications and potential are infinite.
