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Chapter 5 Operation 39
39
Spectroscopy
The following paragraphs provide step-by-step instructions for operating PIXIS in a
spectroscopy setup for the first time. The intent of this simple procedure is to help you gain
basic familiarity with the operation of your system and to show that it is functioning
properly. Once basic familiarity has been established, then operation with other operating
configurations, ones with more complex timing modes, can be performed. An underlying
assumption for the procedure is that the camera is to be operated with a spectrograph (such
as an Acton Series 2300 spectrograph) on which it has been properly installed (refer to
Appendix D for instructions for mounting a spectrograph adapter to the PIXIS). A
suitable light source, such as a mercury pen-ray lamp, should be mounted in front of the
entrance slit of the spectrograph. Any light source with line output can be used. Standard
fluorescent overhead lamps have good calibration lines as well. If there are no "line"
sources available, it is possible to use a broadband source such as tungsten for the
alignment. If this is the case, use a wavelength setting of 0.0 nm for alignment purposes.
Assumptions
The following procedure assumes that
1. You have already set up your system in accordance with the instructions in
Chapter 4.
2. You have read the previous sections of this chapter.
3. You are familiar with the application software.
4. The system is being operated in spectroscopy mode.
5. The PIXIS does not have an internal shutter.
6. The spectrograph has an entrance slit shutter that is being controlled by the
PIXIS via the Shutter connector.
If the PIXIS has an internal shutter, DO NOT USE the Shutter connector to
drive a spectrograph entrance slit shutter. If both the camera and the spectrograph
have shutters, the entrance slit shutter will have to be removed or a Princeton
Instruments SHC-EXT Shutter Control Box may be used to control the opening
and closing of the entrance slit shutter. See the spectrograph manual.
Getting Started
1. Set the spectrograph entrance slit width to minimum (10 µm if possible).
2. Power ON the spectrograph (i.e., switch the power supply ON).
3. Mount a light source at the spectrograph entrance slit.
4. Mount the camera to the spectrograph exit port.
5. Connect the shutter cable between the entrance slit shutter and the PIXIS Shutter
connector.
External Slit Shutter: A shutter assembly mounted externally to the
spectrograph has shutter cable that plugs into the Shutter connector.
Caution