The LumaSpec LS800S from Prior Scientific is a compact visible light spectrophotometer that provides quantitative spectral power data -
enabling users to characterise and monitor the illumination source of their microscope system.
Operating from 350 nm to 800 nm with 1.5 nm resolution, the LumaSpec LS800S uses a microscrope-mounted illumination target slide to provide accurate and precise information about the illumination in the sample plane, leading to the most relevant information being obtained.
The LumaSpec LS800S is capable of analysing the output from a wide variety of light sources, ranging from the dimmest LED to a powerful mercury burner light.
Simple to use, USB connection to a computer facilitates easy viewing and analysis of spectral data.
Each spectrum can be sub-divided into 10 ranges to enable calculation of spectral power for user-defined defined regions.
This feature is particularly suited to fluorescence microscopists who wish to check the spectral power provided by their illumination source in certain spectral regions.
By using the LumaSpec LS800S the performance of illumination systems can be characterised both with and without the presence of filter sets.
The consistency of the illumination can be monitored over time and the user can overlay multiple saved spectra (up to four) over the live graph to quickly compare the illumination system.
In transmission mode, the LumaSpec LS800S is able to quickly establish the 100% light output for each illumination source and then determine the wavelength and the percent transmission for each filter placed into the light path.
This feature is useful in determining the overall efficiency and remaining lifetime of optical filter sets.
