
14
Computing absorbance
The detector calculates absorbance values before transmitting the data to the
Empower or MassLynx database. It does so as follows:
•
Computes the absorbance at each diode using the dark current and
reference spectrum (see
“Calculating absorbance” on page 4
).
•
Averages the absorbances at a particular wavelength, as specified in the
spectra-per-second sample rate, and reports the average as a single data
).
•
Also, the detector can apply a filter when calculating absorbance (see
).
Dark current
Photodiodes produce thermally excited charge even when not exposed to
light. The amount of thermally excited charge produced is called dark
current.
When a dark current update is necessary, the detector closes the shutter
to take a dark-current reading for each diode. The shutter closes after
the exposure time is calculated and stays closed for the same interval as
the exposure time.
The detector subtracts the dark-current values from the current values
recorded during absorbance measurements for both the sample and the
reference spectra.
Reference spectrum
Immediately after the dark-current measurement, and before any
components elute, the detector records a reference spectrum. The
reference spectrum is a measure of lamp intensity and mobile phase
absorbance that ideally represents the initial mobile phase. With the
shutter open, the reference spectrum is determined over the interval
specified in the exposure time.
For extremely long exposure times, the dark current and reference
spectrum readings can take several seconds to finish.
Содержание ACQUITY UPC2
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