Collecting Spectra; Manual Atr Objective - PerkinElmer Spotlight 200 User Manual

98 . Spotlight 200 User's Guide

Collecting Spectra

Manual ATR Objective

Collecting a Background Spectrum
1. Select the ATR sampling mode on the Setup Microscope Basic tab.
2. Set the infrared aperture to a suitable size and rotation.
For information on how to do this see the on-screen Help.
The contact area of the ATR objective is approximately 100 µm in diameter. We
therefore recommend that you use a maximum aperture size of 100 x 100 µm.
3. Choose the Scan Settings you want on the Setup Instrument Basic tab.
4. Click .
The stage will be lowered so that the background spectrum can be collected in air.
5. When prompted, lower the ATR crystal to the working position, and click Retry.
The spectrometer starts to scan and the spectrum is displayed as it is collected.
6. When the scan is completed, retract the ATR crystal.
Collecting a Sample Spectrum
Once you have collected a background spectrum, follow the procedure below to collect a
spectrum of your sample.
To prevent serious damage to the crystal, do not move the sample stage
while the ATR crystal is in the lower, working position and touching, or
CAUTION
near to, the sample.
1. Make sure that the ATR crystal is retracted.
2. Place the sample on the stage, either on the slide holding the reference mirror or on its
own slide.
3. Move the sample to the center of the field of view.
Even though the microscope may not be focused on the sample, you can see a change
in the light intensity as the sample moves into the center of the field of view.
4. Look at the image in the Camera View and focus on the sample using the Z-control on
the joystick or the Auto-Focus option, and then move the area of interest into the
center of the field of view.
Before you collect the sample spectrum, you should monitor the spectrum to make sure that
there is good contact between the crystal and the sample.