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Spectroscopy

Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique used to identify the chemical composition of a sample. The method typically works by bombarding a sample with electrons and breaking it into charged molecules or molecule fragments. These ionized particles are then separated, normally by accelerating them in an an electromagnetic field, and the mass to charge ratio for each compound is then determined. To detect the ionized particles an electron multiplier is normally used and the results are displayed as a spectra which plots the number of detected ions as a function of their mass to charge ratio. The electron multiplier plays a crucial role in detecting the ions and producing the electrical signals that need to be analyzed.

For situations that require fast and accurate capture of the electrical signals Spectrum has a range of digitizers that can be employed. For example, 8 bit digitizers are available that offer from 1.25 GS/s up to 5 GS/s sampling rates and 1.5 GHz bandwidth. These products are ideal for capturing and analyzing pulses that go down into the nano-second and sub-nanosecond region. The ultra-fast sampling rates also ensure excellent timing resolution in time-of-flight mass spectrometry systems (TOF-MS). When larger dynamic range and more sensitivity is required high-resolution 14 and 16 bit digitizers are available with sampling rates from 130 MS/s up to 500 MS/s. These high-resolution products deliver outstanding signal-to-noise ratio's (up to 72 dB) and spurious free dynamic range (of up to 90 dB) so that even the smallest signals can be detected and analyzed.

Small and compact the digitizers can be installed directly in any free PCIe slot in most modern PC's. They are equipped with ultra-fast trigger circuits so that the dead-time between acquisitions can be extremely small (down to as little as 16 ns). Together with large on-board memories (up to 4 GSamples/card) and advanced streaming and readout modes this makes the digitizers ideal for applications where acquisitions need to be made over long periods of time and where high trigger rates may be encountered. Data can be stored in the on-board memory or streamed in FIFO mode over the fast PCIe bus of the digitizer to a PC at rates up to 3.4 GB/s. To help with data analysis and data reduction Spectrum's M4i series of digitizers also feature on-board FPGA based processing functions that can be perform on-the-fly Averaging and Peak detection routines. Averaging a signal helps remove unwanted noise and improves sensitivity while Peak Detection can be used to help locate pulses and provide time interval analysis.

Each digitizer card can have from one to four channels and up to eight cards can be linked together with Spectrum's StarHub system to create instruments with up to 32 fully synchronous channels. The flexibility allows you to match your system perfectly whether it be for use with a single detector or for applications where multiple detectors and detector arrays are deployed.

To allow easy integration into mass spectrometry systems Spectrum makes available software and instrumentation drivers that work with 32 bit and 64 bit versions of Windows and Linux. Programming of the cards is possible using a wide range of languages such as LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, C++, MATLAB, Borland Delphi, Visual Basic, VB.NET, C#, J# and IVI.

Typical mass spectrometry applications include chemical analysis and life science measurements using TOF-MS (including MALDI-TOF), accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). Mass spectrometry can also be combined with chromatographic compound separation methods such as liquid chromatography (LC-MS), gas chromatography (GC-MS) and ion mobility mass spectrometry (IM-MS).

Spectrum Product Features

  • High Sampling Rates up to 10 GS/s and more than 1.5 GHz bandwidth
  • 12, 14 and 16 bit Resolution
  • Fast Trigger and Read-Out Rates
  • External Clock and Reference Inputs
  • FPGA based Block Average and Block Statistics (Peak Detect) Options

Matching Card Families

33xx
Family
A/D family
Sample rate
6.40 GS/s - 10 GS/s
Resolution
12 Bit
22xx
Family
A/D family
Sample rate
1.25 GS/s - 5 GS/s
Resolution
8 Bit
44xx
Family
A/D family
Sample rate
130 MS/s - 400 MS/s
Resolution
14 Bit 16 Bit

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Microwave spectroscopy is a very powerful tool for discovering molecular structures and operates at very low temperatures near absolute zero (1 to 5 Kelvin). The spectrometers generally either operate with high sensitivity over a very narrow bandwidth or a wide frequency with reduced sensitivity. Researchers at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have used a Spectrum Instrumentation digitizer card to create a next generation molecular spectrometer with both high resolution and high sensitivity that is capable of capturing sample data substantially faster.

Case Study: Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) – Scanning Atoms

The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) is an important tool in materials science and used for mechanical scanning of surfaces. The forces acting between the atoms of the surface and the tip of a nanoscopic needle are measured and calculated giving resolutions in the order of fractions of a nanometer. Now, the University of Newcastle in Australia is improving and simplifying these complex machines, so that a wider use in laboratories worldwide will be possible. In this sophisticated research, an 8-channel Spectrum digitizerNETBOX provides the high precision needed to push the evolution of AFMs

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Step-Scan Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

The Oklahoma State University, USA, has developed a system and method that improves the quality of step-scan Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy data by improved removal of dark voltage. The experimentation uses a digitizerNETBOX DN2.441-02 that can acquire signals by sampling them at rates up to 130 MS/s with 16 bit resolution. A patent application outlining the scope of the work is available below

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Photolysis of Formic Acid

The Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, in Taiwan are studying the roaming dynamics and conformational memory in photolysis of formic acid. They use an M4i.4410-x8, 130 MS/s, 16 bit, Digitizer for data acquisition in their Time-resolved Fourier-transform Infrared Emission Spectroscopy system. A research paper on the topic can be found below

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Biomedical Laser Spectroscopy

At the Norwegian University of Science and Technology they are using an eight channel M2p.5946-x4 80 MS/s, 16 bit, digitizer card as part of their studies into biomedical laser spectroscopy. The development of a Mid-Infrared Laser Spectroscopy for Glucose Sensing is discussed here:

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Breath Gas Analysis

See how a Spectrum M2i.4963-exp digitizer card, programmed under LabVIEW, is used at the Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, Umeå Sweden, in an EC‑QCL (external cavity – quantum cascade laser) system for real‑time breath gas analysis of CO and CO2 by clicking the link here:

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Optical Feedback Cavity Ring-Down

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Dual-comb Spectroscopy System

At the Division of Advanced Manufacturing, Tsinghua University, China, they are developing ways to lower the cost of Dual-comb Spectroscopy systems. A new approach uses an M4i.4420-x8 250 MS/s, 16-bit Digitizer to acquire signals and passes the data to a computer where it is analysed using a simple frequency domain post-processing method. A white paper explaining their system and the process can be found below

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Electron Spin Resonance (ESR)

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) is a key technique for the study of the structure and dynamics of molecular systems. At the Walter Schottky Institute of the Technical University Munich they are using a Spectrum M4i.4451-x8 digitizer card to help detect, acquire and analyze spin echoes in a pulsed ESR system. A white paper summarizing the experimental setup and results is available here:

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Direct-Comp Spectroscopy

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Ultrafast Spectroscopy

At the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany, they are using a 5 GS/s M4i.2234-x8 Digitizer in nonstationary quantum state tomography, adapting the technique to the special requirements of ultrafast spectroscopy. A white paper on the topic can be found here:

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Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy

Terahertz spectroscopy has become an important tool for investigations of low-frequency optical responses in condensed matter physics. At Keio University, Yokohama, Japan they have developed a polarization-sensitive terahertz time-domain spectroscopy system without mechanical moving parts. The system uses an M2p.5962-x4 125 MS/s, 16-bit Digitizer for signal acquisition and a white paper discussing the development can be found here:

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