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Reference Transmittance Spectrophotometer (RTS)

Reference Transmittance Spectrophotometer
Credit: NIST

The Reference Transmittance Spectrophotometer (RTS) is the national reference instrument for regular spectral transmittance measurements of non-fluorescent samples at room temperature. It is a custom-built instrument that uses a lamp-based, quasi-monochromatic system for illumination of the sample and broadband detection of transmitted radiation.

The illuminator consists two sources, a laser-driven light source (LDLS) and a quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH) incandescent lamp, and a prism-grating monochromator. A sample carriage moves the sample in and out of the influx beam. The detection system consists of two detectors, a silicon (Si) photodiode and an extended indium-gallium-arsenic (InGaAs) photodiode. The combination of sources and detectors enable illumination and detection for wavelengths from the ultraviolet to the shortwave infrared.

We are currently implementing improvements to RTS including development of a new uncertainty budget.

Specifications/Capabilities

Conditions for transmittance measurements using RTS.

 

Geometrical
Illumination Angle
Viewing Angle
Sampling Aperture 4 mm to 20 mm
Spectral
Wavelength 250 nm to 2500 nm
Bandwidth 1.5 nm or 3 nm
Polarization 0° to 90°
Sample Size 10 mm to 50 mm
Measurand
Quantity Transmittance T
Technique Absolute
Range 0.001 to 1
Uncertainty (k=2) 0.1% to 0.5%

 

Created October 21, 2009, Updated December 5, 2022