Spectroscopy - Princeton Instruments ProEM+ EMCCD User Manual

Chapter 5
Acquiring Data
1. If you are using WinView/32 and the computer monitor for focusing, select
2. Adjust the lens aperture, intensity scaling, and focus for the best image as viewed
3. After you have focused the camera, you can stop Focus mode, continue Focus
Shutdown
1. Close WinX.
2. Turn off the camera power.

Spectroscopy

The following paragraphs provide step-by-step instructions for placing your ProEM+:1600
spectroscopy system in operation the first time. The intent of this simple procedure is to
help you gain basic familiarity with the operation of your system and to show that it is
functioning properly. Once basic familiarity has been established, then operation with other
configurations, ones with more complex timing modes, can be performed. An underlying
assumption for the procedure is that the camera is to be operated with a spectrograph
(such as an Acton Series 2300 or IsoPlane) on which it has been properly installed (refer
to"Appendix C Mounting the ProEM+ to a Spectrograph," for mounting instructions).
A suitable light source, such as a mercury pen-ray lamp, should be mounted in front of the
entrance slit of the spectrograph. Any light source with line output can be used. Standard
fluorescent overhead lamps have good calibration lines as well. If there are no "line"
sources available, it is possible to use a broadband source such as tungsten for the
alignment. If this is the case, use a wavelength setting of 0.0 nm for alignment purposes.
Caution
Overexposure Protection: Cameras that are exposed to room light or other
continuous light sources will quickly become saturated. If the camera is mounted to a
spectrograph, close the entrance slit of the spectrograph to reduce the incident light.
from the Acquisition menu. Successive images will be sent to the
Focus
monitor as quickly as they are acquired.
on the computer monitor. Some imaging tips follow:

Begin with the lens blocked off and then set the lens at the smallest possible
aperture (largest f-stop number).

Make sure there is a suitable target in front of the lens. An object with text or
graphics works best.

Adjust the intensity scaling (by clicking the 5%-95% button at the bottom left
corner of the data window) and adjust the lens aperture until a suitable setting is
found. Once you've determined that the image is present, select a lower setting
for better contrast. Check the brightest regions of the image to determine if the
A/D converter is at full-scale. A 16-bit A/D is at full scale when the brightest
parts of the image reach an intensity of 65535. Adjust the aperture to where it is
just slightly smaller (higher f-stop) than the setting where maximum brightness
on any part of the image occurs.

Set the focus adjustment of the lens for maximum sharpness in the viewed
image.
mode, begin Acquire mode, wait for the CCD to reach the operating
temperature before going to Acquire mode, or you can shut down the system.
Operation
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