BLACK-Comet-HR Spectrometer
with Research Grade Concave Grating Optics Request a QuoteDownload Instrument PDF
High Resolution
Concave Grating Spectrometer
- Measurements in the 200-600nm or 380-750nm ranges
- Resolutions as low as 0.4nm with high performance concave grating optics
- Perfect spectral imaging with no mirrors for lowest possible stray light
- Flat field imaging for uniform resolution
- No optical adjustments for extreme thermal stability
- Interchangeable Slit upgrade Options – Now available!
StellarNet, inventors of the first miniature, concave grating spectrometers, introduces the newest member to its BLACK-Comet line-up: the BLACK-Comet-HR. Designed for high-resolution applications, the new BLACK-Comet-HR spectrometer is available for measurements in two ranges – UV (200-600nm) and Visible (380-750nm), and achieves resolving resolutions of 0.4nm. This 16-bit concave grating spectrometer is USB-2 powered, shock-proof, and vibration tolerant with no moving parts and includes the powerful SpectraWiz® spectrometer software and development kit.
The BLACK-Comet UV-VIS spectrometers utilize a 40mm diameter concave grating with aberration correction to provide superb spectral imaging. This significantly improves spectral shapes by reducing comma and astigmatism found in plane grating spectrograph designs. The spectrograph architecture does not utilize mirrors, and therefore provides the lowest possible stray light in the UV with additional assistance from the holographic line grating. The concave grating produces a flat field on the CCD detector creating uniform resolution over the entire range.
Optical bench with concave grating
One of the main advantages of the BLACK-Comet is its ability to drastically reduce straylight levels, 0.02% at 435 nm and 0.2% at 200 nm, the lowest values of any field spectrometer. By design, the holographic grating has a smoother surface than the normal ruled gratings used in competing spectrometer models. Surface roughness is the primary source of grating-generated straylight and thus by employing superior grating technology, StellarNet’s Concave Grating Spectrometers are able to drastically reduce the effect. Additionally, grating scatter in the standard Czerny Turner design is collected and focused by the focusing mirror toward the exit port, this does not occur with the BLACK-Comet. When additional optical components like collimating and focusing mirrors are used in instrument design, it is more likely that light may be rediffracted and scattered. Similarly, due to the spectrometers ability to reduce light scatter, especially high power UV light, the Concave Grating spectrometer provides two to three times enhanced UV sensitivity as compared to plane grating/Czerny Turner optical configurations.
The units are ruggedized. As shown above, the detector is bolted in position and military-grade epoxy holds the concave grating in place making the instruments vibration tolerant, durable, and suitable for just about any lab and/or field measurement. A multi-band filter is integrated into the spectrograph to provide order sorting and prevent optical aliasing. The instruments optical input is attached via a standard SMA-905 connector, using a single strand fiber optic cable with typical silica core diameters of 400um, 600um, and 1000um.
| BLACK-Comet | Wavelength Range (nm) | Grating g / mm | Slit-14 nm res. |
| BLK-C-HR-UV | 200-600 | 590 | 0.40 |
| BLK-C-HR-VIS | 380-750 | 590 | 0.40 |
| Specifications: BLACK-Comet Spectrometers | |||
| Dynamic Range: | 2000:1 with 6 decades | Dimensions: | 69 x 100 x 150 mm |
| Optical Resolution: | < 0.4 nm Resolving Res. > 14um slit | Power Consumption: | 100 mA @ 5 VDC |
| Detector Type: | 2048 pixel CCD, PDA opt. | Interface: | USB-2 |
| Detector Range: | UV=200-600nm or VIS=350-750nm | Data Transfer Speed: | 3x / 40x faster than USB-1 |
| Pixel Size: | 14 um x 200 um | Detector Integration: | 1 ms to 65 s |
| Concave Grating: | Aberration corrected | Slit Size Options: | 14, 25, 50, 100, 200 um |
| Grating Type: | Holographic, 590 g/mm | Stray Light: | 0.02% at 435 nm; 0.2% at 200 nm |
| Spectrograph: | f/2, Flat field – No mirrors | Fiber Optic Input: | SMA905 0.22 na single fiber |
| Order Sorting Filter: | Integrated multi-band | Operating Systems: | Win XP, Vista, 7, 8, & 10 |
| Signal to Noise: | 1000:1 CCD, PDA 2000:1 | Software Included: | SpectraWiz program & apps |
| Digitizer: | 16-bit | Also Free Programs For: | LabView / VC / VBA / Delphi |
BLACK-Comet-HR Sample Spectra
BLACK-Comet UV-VIS spectrometer model CXR-25 (-25 denotes slit size) measuring the transmission of a blue plastic film using a SL1 tungsten halogen lamp, TXF-4 transmission fixture, and two F600-VIS-NIR fiber optic cables and providing colorimetric data in CIELAB color space. Go to the colorimetry page.
BLACK-Comet-SR in DSR-CSR-512 system measuring solar irradiance. The dual blaze concave grating allows for superb spectral imaging from 220-1100nm.
Spectral sensitivity is one of the most important factors in choosing the proper miniature spectrometer. The concave grating optical design allows for high sensitivity and a smooth spectral distribution over the wavelength range as shown in the above spectrum of a Tungsten Halogen lamp.
StellarNet’s Low Cost UV-VIS Spectrometer system is composed of the BLACK-Comet research grade concave grating spectrometer, a SL5 high stability light source with integrated cuvette holder, and an optical coupling fiber. Above is the absorbance spectrum of various sugars.
The powerful SpectraWiz® spectrometer software is provided free of charge with every spectrometer instrument. This includes drivers and customizable software for Windows. The SpectraWiz software is considered the “Swiss Army Knife of Spectroscopy” and may be used to accurately measure wavelength emissions, reflectance, transmission, absorption, concentrations, and absolute intensities. In addition to real-time spectroscopy, SpectraWiz® has built-in applications for SpectroRadiometry, SpectroColorimetry, ChemWiz chemistry lab concentration analyzer, and UV level monitors.
JACK 1-In Trigger
TTL input trigger to enable spectrometer scan $250
Optional Configurations
Units may be daisy chained via USB-2 hub allowing simple configurations for dual and multi-beam process applications. 8 spectrometers can be operated at once!
The system includes a high speed plug & play interface using USB-2 connection.
- SpectroRadiometry
- Colorimetry
- SpectroChemistry Systems
- Optical Metrology
- Fluorescence Spectroscopy
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