A Computer-Spectrometer Interactive System for Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

Noise in the common kinds of infrared spectra in use today is considered. Statistics are employed to suggest modified spectra that have more desirable noise properties. A computer-spectrometer system for infrared spectroscopy is described with the novel feature that the computer modifies the scanning characteristics of the spectrometer as the data are acquired, permitting complete flexibility in programming the spectrometer's task. This system is able to control the spectrometer in the ways required to produce the modified spectra. The nature and operation of the electronic interface between the computer and the spectrometer are described together with the basic characteristics of the computer software used to program it. Several examples of the modified spectra are shown. Significant improvement in spectrum quality and run time is seen.