Ocean Optics’ Enhanced NIRQuest Series Features Replaceable Slit Design and Internal Shutter Option

Ocean Optics has enhanced the NIRQuest series of small-footprint near-infrared spectrometers. All NIRQuest spectrometer models now come with a replaceable slit design as standard, increasing measurement flexibility with easy user changes in the field. Additionally, the option of adding an internal shutter is now available to more effectively manage light throughput and dark measurements in experiment setups.

The NIRQuest is a robust, reliable spectrometer with a fast response time and good optical resolution over 900-2500 nm to suit applications from moisture detection and chemical analysis to high-resolution laser and optical fiber characterization. Slit size is one of the determining factors in the optical resolution of a spectrometer. The choice inevitably involves design trade-offs: A larger slit increases throughput, but at the expense of optical resolution. A smaller slit yields higher optical resolution, but decreases throughput. The flexibility to adjust the width of the slit helps eliminate these trade-offs by granting users the ability to adapt spectrometer performance in the field, without need for recalibration.

Shutter type is another mechanism to configure a spectrometer for maximum performance in a given application. The NIRQuest’s new internal shutter option is useful for applications where placing an external shutter is difficult, such as emissive setups and probe-based measurements. Internal shutters are also more convenient for applications where light intensities change, requiring users to dynamically adjust integration times and renormalize the spectrometer. The internal shutter improves signal throughput in the setup and allows for shorter integration times for an equivalent level of signal. Operation via software makes shutter control as simple as a few keystrokes, with no extra components or cabling to contend with.

The NIRQuest series includes several models of preconfigured spectrometers, each optimized for optimum response within a specific wavelength range. A custom model is also available, for users who want to select the ideal combination of optical bench components, including gratings, slits and filters for a particular application. External hardware triggering functions allow users to capture data when an external event occurs, or to trigger an event after data acquisition.