Abstract

A hardware and software system has been developed which is capable of automatically acquiring and analyzing intensity-time data from a dc arc source. This system is based on a computer-coupled photodiode array spectrometer with which 260 Å of continuous spectral information can be simultaneously measured and stored directly in a small computer. With the present system up to seven time sequential spectra, each representing the integral of the spectral intensity over times ranging from 1 to 10 sec, can be automatically obtained during a dc arc burn. The time interval spectra can then be analyzed under computer control and the intensity-time curves for any desired lines can be plotted on a computer terminal within about 2 min after termination of the are burn. The application of the system to some simple dc arc time studies is discussed and illustrated.

Temperature and nonlinearity corrections for a photodiode array spectrometer used in the field

Saber G. R. Salim, Nigel P. Fox, Evangelos Theocharous, Tong Sun, and Kenneth T. V. Grattan
Appl. Opt. 50(6) 866-875 (2011)

Fourier transform spectrometer with a self-scanning photodiode array

Takayuki Okamoto, Satoshi Kawata, and Shigeo Minami
Appl. Opt. 23(2) 269-273 (1984)

The Use of an Analog Computer in Side-On Arc Spectroscopy

J. B. Shumaker and C. R. Yokley
Appl. Opt. 3(1) 83-87 (1964)

The Measurement of Spectral Intensities in the Direct Current Arc*

Robert R. Hampton and H. N. Campbell
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 34(1) 12-20 (1944)

The Effects of Argon and Argon-Helium Mixtures on the Direct Current Arc*†

Bert L. Vallee and S. James Adelstein
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 42(5) 295-299 (1952)