Definition of optics

1. Successfully applying spectroscopy to scientific problems requires a basic understanding of the components that are available to produce and control electromagnetic radiation. This outline leads to documents that discuss basic optics, light and excitation sources, wavelength separators, and light detectors. A separate document on optical materials gives practical guidelines for choosing optics for different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Basic Optics

   • mirrors
   • prisms
   • lenses
   • polarizers
   Radiation sources for absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy
   • Blackbody
   • Discharge and arc lamps
   • Hollow-cathode lamp
   • Lasers
   Wavelength separators
   • Filters
   • Monochromators
   • Interferometers
   Radiation detectors
   • Overview
   • Photomultiplier tube
   • Semiconductors (photodiodes and photovoltaics)
   • Photodiode array
   • Charge-coupled detector array