A second Perkin-Elmer 100 FTIR spectrometer is interfaced to a Spotlight 400 Imaging System. This system combines high sensitivity and rapid imaging with ease of use. The ability to image rapidly large sample areas at high spatial resolution (down to 10 microns) allows the instrument to be used for a very wide range of applications, such as the study of biomaterials (tissue, bone, leaves etc.), studies of micromorphology in archaeological samples, studies of single crystals of chemical samples, and monitoring of counterfeiting in documents and banknotes. The Spotlight 400 can be used in the mid- and near-IR spectral ranges. A feature of the instrument available in the CAF is an ATR imaging accessory which improves the spatial resolution by a factor of four, down to three microns at 1000 cm-1.

Specific features and benefits of this instrument are as follows:

  • very high sensitivity providing high quality data down to the accepted diffraction limits;
  • rapid-scan IR imaging;
  • 6.25 µm, 25 µm and 50 µm pixel resolution to give flexibility in spatial resolution and imaging line;
  • operation in mid-IR, near-IR or dual range to cover the full range of imaging applications in one instrument.

An ATR imaging accessory is available improving the spatial resolution by a factor of four, down to three microns at 1000 cm-1.