Princeton Instruments PI-MAX 3 System, Manual, Page: 125 / 150

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Appendix G
Spectrograph Adapters
Introduction
Princeton Instruments offers a variety of spectrograph adapters for mounting a PI-MAX3
to a spectrograph: Acton (adapters are available for all Acton models), the ISA HR320,
ISA HR640, Chromex 250IS, and most instruments that are 1 meter or longer. (If you are
not sure of the depth of the exit focal plane, contact the spectrograph manufacturer.)
Mounting the camera to one of these spectrographs typically requires a female Focusing
Flange that may be a separate part or an integral part of the spectrograph. Also required is a
male Focusing Flange that slides into the female flange to set the focus and which is bolted
to the spectroscopy-mount adapter that screws into the PI-MAX3
nose.
The mounting instructions for spectrograph adapters offered by Princeton Instruments
are organized by spectrograph model and adapter kit number. For the appropriate
instruction set, see Table 8, page 126, which cross-references these items with the page
number.
Note:
When mounted to a spectrograph, the text on the back of the PI-MAX3 should
be right side up.
Spectrograph-Detector Focusing
The detector mounting hardware provides two degrees of freedom:
focus
and
rotation
.
In this context, focus means to physically move the detector back and forth through the
focal plane of the spectrograph. The approach taken is to slowly move the detector in and
out of focus and adjusting for optimum while watching a live display on the monitor,
followed by rotating the detector and again adjusting for optimum. The following
procedure, which describes the focusing operation with an Acton SP-2300i spectrograph,
can be easily adapted to other spectrographs.
Tips:
1. Use a DC-powered light source. The 60 Hz of an AC-powered light source may make
it more difficult to achieve focus.
2. If you must use an AC light source, set the SuperSYNCHRO Internal frequency to
around 10 Hz.
1. Mount a light source such as a mercury pen-ray type 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 broad band source such as tungsten for the alignment.
If this is the case, use a wavelength setting of 0.0nm for alignment purposes.
2. With the spectrograph properly connected to the controller, turn the power on, wait
for the spectrograph to initialize. Then set it to 435.8 nm if using a mercury lamp or
to 0.0 nm if using a broadband source.