How does a microvolume spectrophotometer
take a measurement?

Understand a reliable measurement through four modules: light source, path length, spectrum and algorithms.

Schematic measurement chain comprising xenon light source, path-length control, spectral analysis and algorithmic analysis

Stable xenon light source

A xenon lamp can provide broadband continuous radiation extending from ultraviolet through visible toward the near infrared. The calculation depends not simply on brightness, but on repeatable reference radiant power at each wavelength that can be corrected.

Principle schematic of broadband xenon radiation with stable drive, dark-signal subtraction and reference correction

Precise path-length control

The Beer-Lambert relationship incorporates effective path length b directly into absorbance and concentration calculations. Liquid-column continuity, clean measurement surfaces and a known path length all affect the basis of the calculation.

Aλ = log₁₀(I⁰λ / Iλ) = ελbcAbsorbance depends on concentration, effective path length and the wavelength-dependent absorption coefficient.

Principle schematic of light passing through a liquid column between measurement surfaces, with effective path length b entering the Beer-Lambert relationship

Spectral analysis

Light transmitted through the sample must pass through input restriction, collimation, dispersion and detection to organize wavelength-dependent responses into a complete spectrum. Analytical capability comes from controlling the entire optical chain, not from the appearance of a curve.

Principle schematic of transmitted light passing through an entrance slit, collimating optics and a diffraction grating to form wavelength-dependent signals on an array detector

Signal correction & analysis

Algorithms first distinguish dark, reference and sample signals, then calculate transmittance and absorbance at each wavelength. Subsequent baseline processing, wavelength alignment and concentration conversion must remain within validated method boundaries.

Aλ = -log₁₀[(Sλ - Dλ) / (Rλ - Dλ)]Dλ is the dark signal, Rλ is the reference signal, and Sλ is the sample signal.

Principle schematic of dark, reference and sample signal correction, followed by transmittance and absorbance calculation and method analysis

Now explore NANO X1.

One product platform, four configurations. Choose the measurement capabilities you need.

View NANO X1

NANO X1 Standard: Nucleic acid concentration, protein concentration, UV-VIS
NANO X1F Fluorescence: Standard capabilities + fluorescence detection
NANO X1C Cuvette: Standard capabilities + kinetics analysis, OD600
NANO X1CF Fluorescence + Cuvette: All measurement capabilities