Precise calibration of wavelengths in a spectrometer

Abstract: A method of establishing a precision wavelength point in a spectrometric instrument with a calibration source of a spectral peak of precisely identified wavelength and a nominal calibration of spectral wavelength versus spectral locations. A calibration profile representative of the at least one spectral peak is produced from which a centroid wavelength of the calibration profile with respect to the spectral locations is estimated. The calibration profile is reversed about the centroid wavelength to create a reversed profile. A combined profile is produced by addition. The calibration data are fitted to the combined profile to determine an offset between the estimated centroid wavelength and the primary spectral peak, whereby the offset defines the primary peak location with respect to the spectral locations.

Description: Technical field The invention relates to a method of establishing a precision wavelength point in a spectrometric instrument. The invention also relates to a method of precisely calibrating wavelength in a spectrometric instrument. The invention further relates to a spectrometric instrument. Background Art Spectrometric instruments include a dispersion element, such as a diffraction grating, and a detector system. In one precision type the detector is a conventional solid state device comprising an array of individual pixel photodetectors in which pixel location represents wavelength detected. Such a detector typically is a photodiode array, a charge coupled device or charge injection device. Other spectrometric instruments scan the dispersion element over a single photodetector, or use Fourier transform of an interferogram, but the concepts are the same in that wavelength is calibrated against a physical location, orientation or the like. Modern instruments include a computer that is receptive of spectral data from the detector to analyse and compare spectra. With improvements in optics, detectors and computerization, there has evolved an ability to perform very precise measurements. An example is an absorption spectrometer or polychromator using chemometric mathematical analysis to measure octane number in gasolines. Differences in octane number are associated with subtle differences in near infrared (IR) absorption spectra. The very small changes in spectral characteristics cannot effectively be detected directly by personnel, and computerized automation is a necessity. It is also desirable for such spectral measurements to be effected continuously on line. Thus there is an interest in utilizing advanced spectrometry methods for analytical chemistry. Calibrations are carried out typically with spectral measurements on standard chemicals of known composition or other properties similar to unknown samples to be tested. Chemometric models are built from these spectra using multivariate calibration methods such as Principal Component Regression (PCR) or Partial Least Squares (PLS). As in the case of the gasoline octane, this may require a large number (e.g. 50-100) samples for suitable precision and accuracy, and calibration may be needed to be repeated frequently to account for instrumental drift. Such model buildup also requires close scrutiny and expertise. Calibration also are performed with lamps or transmission filters that provide certain spectral lines of known wavelength. As such sources are available only for a few wavelengths, a fringe pattern such as with a Fabry-Perot interferometer is utilized to calibrate across the desired spectral range. Correlating the known wavelength with a fringe pattern has been a challenge. A mathematical model for estimating wavelengths with a standard and an interferometer is taught in a text "Fiber Optics in Astronomy". Volume 3, ed. by Samuel C. Barden (Astro. Soc. of the Pacific, 1988), pages 218-223. These methods apparently have not been applied to the field of analytical chemistry. A typical spectrophotometer is described in "A Photodiode Array Based Near-Infrared Spectrophotometer For The 600-1100 nm Wavelength Region" by D. M. Mayes & J. B. Callis, Applied Spectroscopy 43 (1), 27-32 (1989) and "Laptop Chemistry: A Fiber-Optic, Field Portable, Near-Infrared Spectrometer" by M. Lysagth, J. Van Zee and J. B. Callis, Review of Scientific Instrum. 62 (2), 507-515 (1991). Articles concerned with design, self-scanning and performance of multichannel spectrometric detector systems are "Self-Scanned Photodiode Array: High Performance Operation High Dispersion Astronomical Spectrophotometry" by S. S. Vogt, R. G. Tull and P. Kelton, Applied Optics 17, 574-592 (1978); and "Self-Scanned Photodiode Array: A Multichannel Spectrometric Detector" by Y. Talmi and R. W. Simpson, Applied Optics 19, 1401-1414 (1980) Wavelength calibration in a spectrometrie instrument is disclosed in EP-A-0 463 600. Further relevant prior art is disclosed in an article by K. Okada et al. published in Applied Optics, Vol.28, No.8, 15 April 1989 New York, on pages 1546-1554. This transformation technique uses an HS eigenvalue analysis involving a Kernel function modelled on transmissivity and reflectivity of the Fabry-Perot interferometric spectrometer. Disclosure of the Invention A problem with high precision measurements is that instruments vary from each other, and each instrument varies or drifts with time. Therefore wavelength determination of spectral peaks can be inaccurate and identification can be difficult. The determination of absolute wavelengths and dispersion is necessary. It is a primary object of the invention to provide a novel method for establishing a precision wavelength point in a spectrometric instrument. According to the invention this object is achieved by a method comprising the steps of (a) providing in the instrument a calibration source of a spectral peak of precisely identified wavelength, (b) providing a nominal calibration of spectral wavelength versus spectral locations in a spectral range for the instrument, (c) operating the instrument with the calibration source to produce a calibration profile representative of the at least one spectral peak, (d) storing the calibration profile, (e) estimating a centroid wavelength of the calibration profile with respect to the spectral locations, (f) reversing the calibration profile about the centroid wavelength to create a reversed profile, (g) adding the calibration profile and the reversed profile to create a combined profile, and (h) fitting the calibration data to the combined profile to determine an offset between the estimated centroid wavelength and the primary spectral peak, whereby the offset defines the primary peak location with respect to the spectral locations. A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method of precisely calibrating wavelength in a spectrometric instrument. According to the invention this object is achieved by a method comprising the steps of (a) providing a nominal calibration of spectral wavelength versus spectral locations in a selected spectral range, (b) providing a calibration source of a primary spectral peak of precisely identified wavelength and (c) providing a multiple source of a multiplicity of secondary peaks spaced across the spectral range each secondary peak has an integer order number identified by correlation function to a peak wavelength in accordance with a correlation constant (d) additionally operating the instrument with the calibration source to produce calibration data representative of the primary spectral peak, and further additionally operating the instrument with the multiple peak source to produce secondary data representative of the multiplicity of secondary peaks; (e) ascertaining from the calibration data a primary peak location with respect to the spectral locations, and further ascertaining from the secondary data a set of secondary peak locations with respect to the spectral locations; (f) estimating with the correlation function the correlation constant in accordance with order number differential for at least two peak wavelengths determined by the nominal calibration; (g) identifying with the correlation function a calibration order number for at least one selected secondary peak located adjacent the primary peak, said identifying being effected in accordance with the estimated correlation constant and a preliminary wavelength determined for the selected secondary peak by the nominal calibration; (h) interpolating from the selected secondary peak a precise relative positioning of the selected secondary peak and the primary peak; (i) calculating with the correlation function a precise correlation constant from the calibration order number, the precisely identified wavelength and the relative positioning; and (j) utilizing the precise correlation constant with the correlation function to assign calibrated wavelengths to associated order numbers and thereby to secondary peak locations with respect to the spectral locations. The invention is based on the discovery that differences in wavelengths of spectral data representing a spectral line, as found between different instruments or with one instrument at different times, may be a serious source of errors of the measurement. The invention seeks to eliminate this source of errors. This is done by establishing a wavelength correlation function using one or more peaks of a well known wavelength. The above-mentioned object can be attained by a method/an apparatus according to the independent claims 1, 3 and 7. Further modifications of the invention are subject matter of the dependent claims. An embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief description of the drawings Fig.1 is a schematic drawing of a spectrographic system incorporating the invention. Fig.2 is a flowchart for a computer program utilized in an embodiment of the invention. Fig.3 is a spectral plot illustrating a double peak calibration profile and a treatment thereof according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig.4 is a spectral plot illustrating a low finesse spectrum utilized in an embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention Fig. 1 illustrates a typical spectrometric instrument 10 having a photodetector 11 for which wavelength calibration is to be effected according to the present invention. Such an instrument may be, for example, an on-line chemometric spectrographic polychromator requiring high sensitivity and stability in the near infrared for measuring octane number of gasoline. A stable but otherwise ordinary incandescent light source 12 provides light 13 that passes through a relay lens 14 focused on an input end of an optical fiber 16. The fiber directs the light to a probe assembly 18 immersed in a liquid such as the gasoline to be tested. Although shown as a straight-through probe, the probe instead may have folding optics with reflections to lead light back into a return fiber, such as discloses in copending U.S. patent application Nr. 733,189 filed October 8, 1991 of the present assignee (corresponding to EP-A-540 870). In the probe a sample space 20 is provided for the liquid so that the light 22 is passed through the liquid, where some of the light may be filtered selectively. The filtered light is picked up by a second optical fiber 24. A bypass fiber 26 with optical switching 28 is provided for selectively bypassing the liquid with the light through the fibers, to provide a standard with which to compare the filtered light. Other optical reference means may be used instead of the bypass. The second fiber 24 carries the light to a spectrometer 32 utilizing, for example, a concave holographic grating 33, which disperses the light 35 to the detector 11. Signals form the detector representing the spectrum are directed into a computer 37 for storing 39 on disk or other memory, and processing. In the present example, the spectrum is used as a "fingerprint" of the sample liquid, which may be compared to or calibrated against standard spectra, or use to build chemometric models. The photodetector 11 is as conventional solid state type such as a RL1024S PDA produced by EG&G Reticon. Such a detector typically is as self scanned photodiode array, a charge coupled device, or may be a charge injection device, or the like. This has a linear array of adjacent photosensitive pixel areas 41, for example 1024 such pixels. The pixels are read out sequentially to produce voltage signals fed through a line 42 to the computer 37. To implement the invention a collimation zone 44 is provided in one of the fibers for inserting a disk 43 having several openings therein as shown in FIG. 1. An associated pair of lenses 45 (one shown) pass collimated light through a selected opening between fiber ends. One opening 47 is left empty for passing unfiltered light for normal operation of the instrument to measure samples or background. The other opening contain optical filter elements 46, 48, 50 described below. The disk is positionable manually or, more normally; by motor 52 automatically by computer 37 via line 53 (e.g. at selected intervals for recalibrating) for the selected opening or filter. A spectrometric instrument typically introduces line broadening and distortion because of imperfect optics. This effect can be compensated by introducing a suitable transformation matrix, which transforms the raw data in standardized data. A flowchart of the overall standardizing and calibration procedure is shown in Fig.2, illustrating method and means for implementing the invention. The flowchart has two general aspects, namely a profile standardization 56 involving construction of a transformation of the profiles of the spectra to an absolute standard replacing instrumental effects, and a precision wavelength calibration 58 according to the invention. Advantageously these two aspects are utilized together at two stages: In one stage the transformation is applied to calibration data during the calibration determination. In the other stage the transformation and the wavelength calibration are combined into a correction matrix. This matrix is then applied to all subsequent data including sample data, iterations on recalibrations and updated standardizations. (As used herein and in the claims, the term "data" refers to signal information from the detector related to intensity of radiation incident on the detector for the detected wavelength, and also refers to such information in a normalized, transformed or other treaded form as specified herein. Wavelength Calibration An outline for wavelength (WL) calibration of the instrument is included in the flowchart of FIG. 2. A stored initial wavelength calibration 112 is provided-conventionally by a nominal instrument calibration using an optical model computation which is effected by normal methods from the physical arrangement of the instrument. The initial calibration can and should be reasonably accurate, for example 99.9% accurate. A refined correction matrix 84 built from the initial matrix, via refinements made with one or more iteration loops 118. The initial calibration is in terms of spectral wavelength versus spectral locations such as photodetector pixels across a desired spectral band. Although the term "wavelength" is used herein and in the claims, wave number or frequency may be utilized as being equivalent for the purpose. The instrument includes a physical standard calibration source of at least one primary spectral peak of precisely identified wavelength. A preferred source is an optical standard 43 (FIG.1). An especially suitable optical wavelength standard for short-wave near-infrared is a neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) crystal filter which absorbs at two proximate primary spectral peaks of precisely identified wavelengths (approximately 938.5 and 946.0 nanometers.) The two peaks together define a central primary spectral peak 121 (FIG.3) at a precisely identified wavelength. (As used herein and in the claims, the term "spectral peak" means the center of a single peak as well as, more generally, an identified center of several peaks such as the ND:YAG doublet.) For the calibration steps (FIG. 2), the instrument is firstly operated 119 with the wavelength calibration source to produce calibration data 121 representing the primary spectral peak and defining a calibration profile. The calibration data is modified by the pretreatments including ordinate calibration, and is corrected (127) by the correction matrix 84 and for background (97') to generate corrected standard peak data 129. The latter advantageously includes a wavelength calibration which initially is from the optics model or subsequently via an iteration loop from a prior calibration sequence. The apparent wavelength of the center (peak) of the WL standard profile is determined by any of several methods. In a preferred aspect 131 of finding the wavelength standard profile location (FIG.3), the original calibration profile 120 is stored, and this profile is also reversed about an estimated centroid wavelength 121 with respect to the spectral locations to create a reversed profile 122. The stored profile and the reversed profile are then added to create a fully symmetric combined profile 124. The original calibration data 120 is then fitted to the combined profile 124 to determine an offset 125 between the estimated centroid wavelength 121 and the primary spectral peak 117. The offset thus defines the primary peak location with respect to the spectral locations. The offset 125 of the WL standard profile 120 from the nominal center is precisely determined by a conventional least squares fitting procedure using the combined profile 124 and its derivative with respect to wavelength as model components. The resulting center position 117 is used to calibrate one point in the corrected spectrum to the known reference wavelength. Details are set forth below under Examples of a computation method for wavelength standard measurement. The instrument is further provided with a physical standard source for producing a multiplicity of secondary peaks spaced across the spectral band, each secondary peak having an integer order number identifiable to a peak wavelength in accordance with a correlation constant. A suitable standard is a Fabry-Perot low finesse etalon 50, preferably an uncoated fused silica plate of about 50 microns thickness, disposes in the disk 43 (FIG. 1). This optical element transmits the radiation in a fringe pattern of the multiplicity of secondary peaks. The element has an index of refraction (n) related slightly to wavelength in a well-definded and well known relationship. Fringe order number (m) is identified to peak wavelength (L) in accordance with the correlation constant (T') by the standard fringe equation m=nT'/L. The term T' is two times an effective thickness of the element; i.e. T' is approximately 2T where T is actual thickness. As the constant T' can be determined very accurately by procedures disclosed herein, the actual thickness need not be known. Also, the procedures will average out nonuniform thickness and temperature- induced changes and account for slight misorientation of the etalon in the instrument, which may vary form time to time. The instrument is secondly operated 128 (FIG. 2) with the low finesse (LF) etalon to produce secondary data 130 representing the secondary peaks which have peak locations ascertained with respect to pixels. The secondary data are corrected 132 by matrix 84 to produce corrected secondary peak data 134. On the fist round, the peak wavelengths are only approximate, being no more accurate than the optical model calibration contained in the correction matrix applied. The next step 136 utilizes the above equation in conjunction with the accurately known wavelength of the primary peak 117 (or its centroid equivalent) of the Nd:YAG crystal, to accurately locate the secondary (fringe) peaks with respect to the pixel locations, or more directly with respect to standardized locations which relate by calibration to the pixel locations. The correlation constant T' is first estimated in accordance with at least one selected order number and a corresponding peak wavelength determined by the nominal calibration. This estimate is conveniently effected by fitting wavelengths to the above equation and taking a derivative to provide the slope T'. A calibration order number, i.e. true integer order number, is then identified for a selected secondary peak located adjacent the primary peak, such identification being in accordance with the equation, the estimated correlation constant and a preliminary wavelength determined for the selected secondary peak by the nominal calibration. Order numbers for all other secondary peaks are then established by simply counting up and down from the calibration number. A practical order number for the primary peak is interpolated from secondary peaks on either side of it, one being the selected secondary peak. A precise correlation constant is then calculated from a fractional order number and the precise primary peak wavelength. The precise correlation constant is utilized with the above equation to assign absolute calibrated wavelengths to associated order numbers and thereby to secondary peak locations with respect to the spectral locations. The wavelength correction coefficients 116 are stored, the wavelength mapping 114 is updated, and the correction matrix 84 is also updated. With continued reference to FIG. 2, after absolute wavelength (WL) determination (136), the observed peak locations in the secondary data are fitted (138) to develop a preliminary model of apparent wavelength locations (according to current wavelength calibration), and the peaks in this model are subtracted (140) from the assigned absolute calibrated wavelengths to provide wavelength errors across the spectrum. The errors are curve fitted using polynomials (142), and a decision is made (144) as to whether the error curve is within a predetermined acceptable level. If not, the steps are iterated on the minor recalibration loop 118, which has a branch 150 to include an update 147 of wavelength correction coefficients 116 for the mapping generator 114. If so, the calibration is deemed complete (146), and the correction matrix 84 is held ready for application to sample data. The procedure of FIG. 2 operates iteratively, with two loops, viz. a major recalibration loop 148 and the minor recalibration loop 118. All operations are parameter table driven and run automatically. Normally, major recalibratons are performed infrequently, or when repairs are made to the system. These are relatively computation intensive and time consuming. Minor recalibration are quicker and can be made as frequently as needed, according to the passive stability of the optical system. Normally, the minor loop is interated until convergence is obtained in that the corrections to mapping polynominal correction coefficients become negligible. This may require 3 to 4 iterations on the initial factory calibration, but usually only 1 or 2 thereafter. The programming means for carrying out the foregoing steps is conveniently and readily achieved with a conventional computer language such as "C" generally available through the supplier of the operating system utilized with the computer. Curve fitting is conventional and programs therefore are readily available. The overall program may be compiled, for example, on a Digital Equipment Corporation Model 316+ computer that may be associated with the spectrometer. This procedure provides for a common standardization of data. Such hypotetical instrument has a wavelength accuracy virtually as precise as desired in the setting of error acceptance level, except as limited by signal/noise (S/N) ratio and reproducibility of the primary wavelength standard calibration source. Recalibrations from time to time can be completely automated, so that an instrument can provide continuously accurate output data. Such an instrument is especially suitable for detecting very subtle differences in radiant transmissions or emissions, such as for monitoring gasoline octane by near infra-red transmission. If a transformation matrix is used to provide standardized data, it should be combined with the wavelength calibration to effect a correction function, which is applied to instrument data to generate calibrated standardized data. Examples of a computation method for wavelength standard measurement Wavelength Standard Measurement The raw spectrum of the wavelength standard (e.g., ND:YAG laser crystal. 6 mm thick, doped ∼0.5%) is standardized and converted to double beam absorbance form, that is, the standardized intensity spectrum is divided by a standardized background measured contemporaneously, and the result converted to absorbance (-log 10 ). A window is searched around the expected location of the standard line. Upon finding a peak (or double peak), a peak location algorithm is used to determine its position in standardized units (equivalent to absolute wavelength, provided that calibration has converged). The offset of the observed peak position from its known true position is then noted, in standardized elements. A suitable peak location algorithm follows: First, a rough peak find is performed. This is the highest spectral point in the search window. In case of symmetric multiplets we pretreat the spectrum by superimposing and adding multiple copies of the spectrum which are shifted symmetrically by the known multiplet spacing, as close thereto as the standardized element spacing allows without interpolation. This results in a composite pseudospectrum which has a single highest peak at the center of symmetry of the multiplet. The peak location can now be refined by computing the centroid of this pseudospectrum center peak (about its highest point). The centroid calculation requires that a lower level of cut off be established; this is done as a fixed fraction of the peak height above baseline. With this refined peak location estimate in hand, we return to the original standardized double beam spectrum (not the pseudo spectrum). Taking the estimate as a provisional peak center, we flip the spectrum left to right about this point. Since this flip point is not, in general either on or midway between data points, generating a flipped version which is sampled on the original grid requires interpolation. Cubic splines or Lagrange interpolation are both suitable for the purpose. The left-right inverted spectrum is then added to the original spectrum to produce a peak shape model, similar to the actual peak shape, but guaranteed symmetric about the flip point by construction. The original spectrum is then fitted using ordinary linear least squares regression using as model vectors: (a) the symmetrized peak shape model, (b) the numerical derivative of the peak shape model, and (c) one or more polynomial background terms (typically a constant, linear term, and quadratic term). A shift of the observed line can be modelled to first order as an admixture of its first derivative. Accordingly, the least squares fit coefficient corresponding to the derivative vector is a measure of the peak shift from its assumed position. This is valid so long as the shift is a small fraction of the peak width, which condition is assured by the rough peak finding procedure above. A technique for determining the shift is disclosed in copending U.S. patent application No. 771,705 filed October 4, 1991 of the present assignee. It may be desirable to measure a second wavelength standard line, e.g. one located at 853 nm in the Nd.YAG. This one is used to determine the instrument wavelength dispersion early in the calibration sequence, and avoids possible mistaken identification of marker etalon fringe numbers. It has no effect on the ultimate calibration. Secondary Peak Measurement A single low finesse fringe spectrum is used to determine the effective etalon thickness and measure standardized calibration abscissa errors at each peak (and valley) of the fringes. A mean-centered double beam standardized absorbance fringe spectrum in an envelope 151 is shown in FIG. 4. Peaks 152 and valleys 154 (which constitute peaks for the present purpose) are located approximately by finding the zero crossings of the fringes. The peaks and valleys are taken to be approximately midway between zero crossings in wavenumbers (reciprocal wavelength). A least squares regression is performed to establish the envelope of the fringes, by fitting a polynomial (of order ≥ 2) simultaneously to the peak and valley points. This envelope fit is used later in the fringe analysis. Standardized units are transformed into reduced wavenumber or Z units according to Z=sn(s), where s=(1/L) is wavenumber (cm -1 ) (vacuum) and n(s) = refractive index of etalon material as a function of wavenumber. The etalon equation is written as m=ZT' where m = order of interference, T'= twice effective thickness of the etalon. Plotting the fringe number against Z locations of fringe peaks and valleys gives a highly linear plot. When a straight line fit to the points is performed, the slope gives a first estimate of twice the effective thickness: T' = dm/dZ. The absolute order number m of the ith fringe peak can then be found using m i =INT(ZT'). After assigning the correct order number to each fringe (integer for peaks, half integer for valleys, if used) one can then perform a single parameter least squares fit (slope only, not intercept) to more accurately determine dm/dz, and hence the effective thickness. This is the "improved estimate" for T'. At this point, the fringe number at which the wavelength standard line occurs is found. To do this, several (typically 2 to 5) adjacent fringe extrema straddling the standardized unit location of the wavelength standard (as determined above) are examined in detail. In particular, their peak (valley) Z locations are accurately measured by a procedure to be described below. The order numbers m of these few fringes are then plotted against their measured Z locations and a straight line fit (linear regression) performed. The m intercept on this regression line by the vertical line Z=Z(wavelength standard, observed) then gives the fractional order number m' corresponding to the WL standard wavelength. One can then calculate a final best estimate for twice effective etalon thickness from T'= m'/Z (wavelength standard, absolute). The fringes are now computed one by one. For each there is (a) computed the theoretical Z location based on the effective thickness and (b) measured the observed Z location using a fitting procedure (below). The difference is taken as the calibration error at this point in the spectrum. Also, this same information is converted to wavelength error vs physical pixel number. A polynomial fit to the WL errors is then performed, typically of order 3 or 5. The coefficients of this fit, if larger than a specified threshold, are then used to update the master wavelength mapping polynomial correction coefficients by direct subtraction. The secondary standard (low finesse etalon) peaks and valleys are precisely located by a linear fitting procedure. Small zones of the spectrum surrounding each peak (valley), typically 0.7 to 1.5 fringes wide, are individually least squares fitted using as model functions synthetic modified sine and cosine function determined above. Baseline offset terms are also included in the fits. Peak location offsets are given by the ratio of sine to-cosine regression coefficients. While the invention has been described above in detail with reference to specific embodiments, various changes and modifications which fall within the scope of the appended claims will become apparent to those skilled in this art. Therefore, the invention is intended only to be limited by the appended claims.

Claims: A method of establishing a precision wavelength point in a spectrometric instrument (10) comprising the steps of (a) providing in the instrument a calibration source (43) of a spectral peak of precisely identified wavelength, (b) providing a nominal calibration (112) of spectral wavelength versus spectral locations in a spectral range for the instrument, (c) operating the instrument with the calibration source (43) to produce a calibration profile representative of the at least one spectral peak (120), (d) storing the calibration profile, characterized by (e) estimating a centroid wavelength (117) of the calibration profile (120) with respect to the spectral locations, (f) reversing the calibration profile (120) about the centroid wavelength (117) to create a reversed profile (122), (g) adding the calibration profile and the reversed profile to create a combined profile (124), and (h) fitting the calibration data to the combined profile (124) to determine an offset (125) between the estimated centroid wavelength (117) and the primary spectral peak (121), whereby the offset (125) defines the primary peak location with respect to the spectral locations. Method of claim 1 wherein the optical standard (43) is a neodymium doped yttrium aluminium garnet filter. Method of precisely calibrating wavelength in a spectrometric instrument (10) comprising the steps of (a) providing a nominal calibration (112) of spectral wavelength versus spectral locations in a selected spectral range, (b) providing a calibration source (43) of a primary spectral peak of precisely identified wavelength characterized by (c) providing a multiple source (50) of a multiplicity of secondary peaks (152, 154) spaced across the spectral range each secondary peak (152, 154) has an integer order number identified by correlation function to a peak wavelength in accordance with a correlation constant ; (d) additionally operating the instrument (10) with the calibration source (43) to produce calibration data representative of the primary spectral peak, and further additionally operating the instrument (10) with the multiple peak source (50) to produce secondary data representative of the multiplicity of secondary peaks (152, 154); (e) ascertaining from the calibration data a primary peak location (121) with respect to the spectral locations, and further ascertaining from the secondary data a set of secondary peak locations (152, 154) with respect to the spectral locations; (f) estimating with the correlation function the correlation constant in accordance with order number differential for at 'least two peak wavelengths determined by the nominal calibration (112); (g) identifying with the correlation function a calibration order number for at least one selected secondary peak (152, 154) located' adjacent the primary peak, said identifying being effected in accordance with the estimated correlation constant and a preliminary wavelength determined for the selected secondary peak by the nominal calibration (112); (h) interpolating from the selected secondary peak (152, 154) a precise relative positioning of the selected secondary peak and the primary peak; (i) calculating with the correlation function a precise correlation constant from the calibration order number, the precisely identified wavelength and the relative positioning; and (j) utilizing the precise correlation constant with the correlation function to assign calibrated wavelengths to associated order numbers and thereby to secondary peak locations with respect to the spectral locations. The method of claim 3 characterized in that the multiple source comprises a source of radiation (12) and a first optical element (50) inserted in the radiation, the first optical element has an index of refraction (n) related to wavelength and the order number (m) is identified to peak wavelength (L) in accordance with the correlation constant (T') by the correlation function m=nT'/L. The method of claim 4 characterised in that the multiple source (50) is a Fabry-Perot low finesse etalon disposed to transmit the radiation (13) in a fringe pattern comprising the multiplicity of secondary peaks (152, 154). The method of claim 5 characterized in that the low finesse etalon (50) comprises a plate of uncoated fused silica. A spectrometric instrument comprising (a) a calibration source (43) of at least one primary spectral peak of precisely identified wavelength, (b) means for performing a nominal calibration (112) of spectral wavelength versus spectral locations in a selected spectral range, characterized by (c) a multiple source (50) of a multiplicity of secondary peaks (152, 154) spaced across the spectral range, each secondary peak having an integer order number identified by correlation function to a peak wavelength in accordance with a correlation constant, and calibration means comprising: (d) additional means for additionally operating the instrument (10) with the calibration source (43) to produce calibration data representative of the primary spectral peak, and further additionally operating the instrument (10) with the multiple peak source (50) to produce secondary data representative of the multiplicity of secondary peaks (152, 154); (e) ascertaining means for ascertaining from the calibration data a primary peak location (121) with respect to the spectral locations, and further ascertaining from the secondary data a set of secondary peak locations (152, 154) with respect to the spectral locations; (f) estimating means for estimating with the correlation function the correlation constant in accordance with order number differential for at least two peak wavelengths determined by the nominal calibration (112); (g) identifying means for identiying with the correlation function a calibration order number for at least one selected secondary peak (152, 154) located adjacent the primary peak, said identifying being effected in accordance with the estimated correlation constant and a preliminary wavelength determined for the selected secondary peak by the nominal calibration (112); (h) interpolating means for interpolating from the selected secondary peak a precise relative positioning of the selected secondary peak and the primary peak; (i) calculating means for calculating with the correlation function a precise correlation constant from the calibration order number, the precisely identified wavelength and the relative positioning; and (j) utilizing means for utilizing the precise correlation constant with the correlation function to assign calibrated wavelengths to associated order numbers and thereby to secondary peak locations with respect to the spectral locations. The apparatus of claim 7 characterized in that the multiple source comprises a source of radiation (12) and a first optical element (50) inserted in the radiation (13), the first optical element (50) has an index of refraction (n) related to wavelength, and the order number (m) is identified to peak wavelength (L) in accordance with the correlation constant (T') by the correlation function m=nT'/L. The apparatus of claim- 8 characterized in that the multiple source (50) is a Fabry-Perot low finesse etalon disposed to transmit the radiation (13) in a fringe pattern comprising the multiplicity of secondary peaks (152, 154). The apparatus of claim 9 characterized in that the low finesse etalon (50) comprises a plate of uncoated fused silica. The apparatus of claim 7 characterized in that the optical standard (43) is a neodymium doped yttrium aluminum garnet filter.

Inventors: GANZ ALAN M, HOULT ROBERT A, TRACY DAVID H, GANZ,ALAN M., HOULT,ROBERT A., TRACY,DAVID H.
Applicants: PERKIN ELMER CORP, THE PERKIN-ELMER CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G01J3
IPC codes: G01J3