Method and apparatus for accurately calibrating a spectrometer

US8577639B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Robert C. Youngquist · Cocoa, US
• Stephen M. Simmons · Titusville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 19, 2011
• Grant date: Nov 5, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 7, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01J3/28
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A calibration assembly for a spectrometer is provided. The assembly includes a spectrometer having n detector elements, where each detector element is assigned a predetermined wavelength value. A first source emitting first radiation is used to calibrate the spectrometer. A device is placed in the path of the first radiation to split the first radiation into a first beam and a second beam. The assembly is configured so that one of the first and second beams travels a path-difference distance longer than the other of the first and second beams. An output signal is generated by the spectrometer when the first and second beams enter the spectrometer. The assembly includes a controller operable for processing the output signal and adapted to calculate correction factors for the respective predetermined wavelength values assigned to each detector element.