The Sciencetech 9040 is a true half meter, high performance monochromator/spectrograph. It supports large size gratings for high light throughput: three sizes are available: 64 x 64mm, 84 x 84 mm, and 102 x 102mm which allow it to achieve apertures of f/6.9, f/5.2 and f/4.0 respectivley. The 9040 is based on the Czerny-Turner optical configuration and supports a single large size grating mounted on a rotating turret for wavelength selection. The grating is installed on a removable kinematic mount and can be manually swapped with other gratings without disruption to the optical alignment. The 9040 is also available in double additive and double subtractive versions to obtain even higher resolution or to minimize stray light.

The kinematic single grating mount (that can be exchanged with other gratings) can be replaced with a triple grating turret. The triple grating turret allows the exchange of turrets with another set of gratings.

Optics The Sciencetech 9040 optical layout has been optimized for symmetrical coma correction. It's unequal input and output focal lengths allow it to obtain high resolutions with low stray light levels and high light collection efficiency.

 Versions Available The 9040 is available in three grating size versions depending on light throughput requirement as measured by aperture. The larger the grating size, the greater the light throughput as supported by its f/number. For example, 64 x 64 mm is the smallest grating size and therefore gives the lowest light throughput with an aperture of f/6.9. The 102 x 102 mm grating is the largest and can provide 2.5x as much throughput with an aperture of f/4. Please note that a 9040 is manufactured for a particular grating size version. So a manufactured for 64 x 64 mm size grating, it will not be able to accept larger gratings of 84 x 84 mm or 102 x 102 mm in the future.

Grating Selections Sciencetech offers a large selection of ruled and holographic gratings in each grating size to span the UV-VIS-IR range. Gold and aluminum coated gratings are also available on some gratings for IR applications. Please see the grating selection list for details. If assistance is required, our Applications Specialists (sales@sciencetech-inc.com) are available to help in the grating selection process. Please note that more than one grating (of the same size) can be purchased as some of the gratings are mounted on a removable kinematic mount that can be manually swapped in and out by the user. The kinematic mount assures consistent optical alignment each time a grating is changed. Please note that the price of the gratings includes the aluminum grating back bracket (one required for each grating) for interfacing with the kinematic mount. The grating price also includes the optical pre-alignment cost for adhering each grating on its back bracket.

 High Resolution Slits The 9040 uses the high resolution SS82-HR bilaterally adjustable slits reserved for Sciencetech large monochromator series. (The standard SS80 slits do not meet the tight tolerance requirement of the 9040 at these higher resolutions.) Included with the 9040 is one SS82-HR high resolution bilaterally adjustable slit at the input port. The high resolution slit is manually adjustable with a micrometer thumbwheel from 0-6 mm width.  A computer controlled, motorized version of the high resolution bilaterally adjustable slit is available as an option. Maximum slit height is 38 mm (limited by the port diameter of the 9040), but can be reduced through an optional height adjustable stepwise cover.

Additional slits may be required if the 9040 is used as a monochromator with a single-channel or PMT detector. An additional slit is not required if the 9040 is used as a spectrograph with a multi-channel linear array detector mounted directly to the output port.

 Monochromator Operation The 9040 can be used as a wavelength scanning monochromator by mounting a single-channel detector at the output port to capture one wavelength at a time. For highest resolution an SS82-HR bilaterally adjustable slit should be used in the output port. Sciencetech provides a wide range of single channel detectors including photo diodes, InGaAs, PbS, and other exotic sensors that covers the UV-VIS-IR spectrum. Nitrogen cooled versions for better signal to noise and motorized choppers with lock-in-amplifiers for IR applications are also available. For photon-starved and low light applications, Sciencetech recommends its highly sensitive PMT and photon counting PMT detectors. All detectors are available with 12-bit or 16-bit data acquisition hardware and Active-X software for interfacing with Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP computers. An additional high resolution slit for the output port is required for use with single-channel detectors. Also available is Sci-Spec, an optional full-featured scanning monochromator software application that synchronizes the monochromator and detector operations. Sci-Spec is only available as a Windows based application.

Spectrograph Operation The 9040 has a flat field output which allows it to operate as a spectrograph by mounting a linear array multi-channel detector at the output port to capture the entire spectral dispersion. Sciencetech provides a selection of 1” wide CCD and photo-diode linear array multi-channel detectors. All multi-channel detectors are available with 12-bit or 16-bit data acquisition hardware and Active-X software for interfacing with Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP PC computers. Also available is Sci-LDA, an optional full-featured spectrograph software application that controls both the monochromator grating movement and detector data acquisition. Sci-LDA is only available as a Windows based application.

 Manual Control for Spectrograph Operation The grating wavelength selection is typically computer controlled through a precision motorized sine drive. However, a manually controlled version using a mechanical knob with readout is also available for those using the 9040 in spectrograph mode and do not require constant changes to its wavelength region. This manual operation option results in a cost saving compared to the regular computer control version as the motor mechanism and computer interface is removed. If the 9040 is to be used as a scanning monochromator, this manual control version is not recommended as Sci-Spec can only be used with motorized Sciencetech monochromators.

 Computer Control All Sciencetech computer controlled monochromators and motorized accessories such as motorized slits, dual port flipping mirrors, and filter-wheels are connected to the computer via serial (RS-232) or optional USB interface. For serial interface, Sciencetech has developed a proprietary addressing system that allows one serial port to control up to 4 motorized devices. A Sciencetech RS-232 four-way splitter is required if more than one RS-232 motorized device is used. Each computer controlled motorized device requires its own Sciencetech MD-100 universal stepper motor controller. Many Sciencetech motorized monochromators, including the 9040, have a built-in MD-100 universal stepper motor controller to control its motorized grating. An Active-X component software library is included with each motorized device such that its control features can be incorporated into any Visual Basic, C++, J++, or LabView application. The Active-X library is designed for use in Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP computers only. However, users can write their own software interface for other operating systems by purchasing the optional RS-232 ASCII command interface manual. Also available as an option are two full featured Windows applications (Sci-Spec and Sci-LDA) to control the 9040 in scanning monochromator or spectrograph mode respectively.

 Body Construction The 9040 body panels and optical mounts are made of precision machined anodized aluminum.