Princeton Instruments ProEM+ EMCCD, User Manual

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Chapter 5 Operation 55
55
Spectroscopy
The following paragraphs provide step-by-step instructions for operating a ProEM+:1600
spectroscopy system in LightField 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 or IsoPlane ) on which it has been properly
installed (
refer to“
Appendix C Mounting the ProEM+ to a Spectrograph
,” for mounting
instructions). 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
previous chapters. This includes mounting the camera to the spectrograph (refer
to “
Appendix C Mounting the ProEM+ to a Spectrograph
”, starting on
page 131).
2. You have read the previous sections of this chapter.
3. The camera has full frame array and a manual shutter (1600x200 or 1600x400,
for example).
4. You are familiar with the application software.
5. The system is being operated in spectroscopy mode.
6. The spectrograph has an entrance slit shutter that is being controlled by the
ProEM+:1600 via the
Shutter connector.
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 such as a Princeton Instruments Hg and Ne/Ar Dual
Switchable light source in front of the entrance slit.
4. Connect the shutter cable between the entrance slit shutter and the ProEM+:1600
Shutter connector. Make sure the shutter knob for the ProEM+’s manual shutter
is pushed in (i.e., manual shutter is open).

External Slit Shutter: A shutter assembly mounted externally to the
spectrograph has shutter cable that plugs into the Shutter connector.

Internal Slit Shutter: A shutter mounted internally has an external shutter
connector in the sidewall of the spectrograph. Connect a shutter cable from
the ProEM+:1600
Shutter connector to that connector.
Caution
Overexposure Protection: Cameras that are exposed to room light or other
continuous light sources will quickly become saturated. If the camera is mounted to a
spectrograph, close the entrance slit of the spectrograph to reduce the incident light.