To demonstrate the range of possible applications, we show here a collection of spectra recorded with the Czerny-Turner spectrometers from our optics kit.

Most of the spectra were recorded using our EasyLines Python script. In addition to displaying the recorded spectrum, this also allows the positions of emission lines whose data are read in from an external file to be displayed (source: Internet database NIST (Atomic Spectra Database | NIST)). ¹

The light sources used can be easily divided into categories and assigned to certain specialist areas, which can then carry out their own spectroscopy experiments inspired by these light sources.

Electrical discharge sources

Such light sources are particularly interesting for spectroscopic measurements in the fields of physics, electrical engineering, chemistry and materials science.

These sources are based on electrical discharges in gases, whereby atoms and molecules are excited and emit characteristic emission lines.

Examples of this are

• Glow lamps
• Cold cathode lamps
• Pen-ray light sources
• Plasma spheres
• Glow lamps with gas fillings (nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, deuterium, oxygen) (in preparation)

On a subpage we have compiled examples of some of the spectra we have recorded from this category of light sources.

Luminescence-based sources

Fluorescence sources

These sources for spectroscopic measurements are particularly suitable for the fields of physics, chemistry, materials science and, in some cases, biology.

Here, light is generated by absorption of excitation light (often UV) and subsequent emission in the visible spectrum—a phenomenon that is intensively studied in biochemistry, materials research and analytical chemistry.

Examples of this are

• Fluorescent minerals
• Fluorescence of aesculin (from horse chestnut leaves)
• Fluorescent colors
• Fluorescence of lumogen
• Fluorescence of rhodamine
• Fluorescence of quinine (in preparation)
• Fluorescence of chlorophyll (in preparation)
• Fluorescence of brown eggshells (in preparation)
• Fluorescence of fluorescein (in preparation)
• Fluorescence of turmeric (in preparation)
• Fluorescence of luminol (in preparation)

Chemiluminescence

Spectroscopy experiments with the following chemiluminescence sources are aimed at the chemistry and physics departments. With these sources, light is released directly by chemical reactions without the need for an external light source.

• Bendy lights
• Spectra of fireworks

On a subpage we have compiled examples of some of the spectra we have recorded from this category of light sources.

Thermal and electroluminescent sources

Spectra from this area are of interest to the fields of physics, engineering and semiconductor physics. These light sources are based either on the heating of a material (bulbs) or on recombination-induced light emission in semiconductors (LEDs). Examples of this are

• Spectra of street lamps (depending on the technology: historically often gas discharge or sodium/mercury vapor lamps, currently increasingly LED-based)
• Spectra of incandescent lamps (thermal radiation, black body) (in preparation)
• Spectra of LEDs (electroluminescent semiconductor sources) (in preparation)

On a subpage we have compiled examples of some of the spectra we have recorded from this category of light sources.

Astrophysical and atmospheric spectra

Measurements with the following sources will find particular appeal in the fields of astronomy, physics and atmospheric sciences. These measurements are concerned with natural spectra, such as those produced by atmospheric processes or in astrophysical objects—topics of central interest in astronomy and environmental physics.

Examples of this are

• Absorption of sunlight in the atmosphere when the sun is low in the sky
• Fraunhofer lines in the solar spectrum
• D-lines in emission/absorption of sparklers
• Spectra of the moon, planets and stars) (in preparation)

On a subpage we have compiled examples of some of the spectra we have recorded from this category of light sources.

Transmission spectra – making colors visible

A transmission spectrum describes which wavelengths of light can pass through a material and which are absorbed. When white light hits a sample, some of it is swallowed up (absorbed) and the rest is allowed to pass through (transmitted). We can analyze this transmitted light with a spectrometer and thus obtain the characteristic spectrum of the sample.

Examples of the measurement of transmission spectra include:

• Floral pigments (anthocyanins)
• Tea and juice analysis (in preparation)
• Sunglasses and UV filters (in preparation)
• Analysis of food colors (in preparation)
• Leaf dyes (chlorophyll & carotenoids) (in preparation)

On a subpage we have compiled examples of some of the spectra we have recorded from this category of light sources.

¹ Kramida, A., Ralchenko, Yu., Reader, J., and NIST ASD Team (2023). NIST Atomic Spectra Database (ver. 5.11), [Online]. Available: https://physics.nist.gov/asd [2024, June 23]. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18434/T4W30F

A legend with more detailed information on the position of individual lines from this database is displayed in the spectra shown. A small letter is used to mark the line in the spectrum. In addition to the wavelength, the origin of the emission and the accuracy of the wavelength information are also indicated.

The meaning of the individual uncertainty classes is:

• AAA: The highest accuracy (uncertainty < 0.00001 Å)
• AA: Very high accuracy (uncertainty between 0.00001 Å and 0.0001 Å)
• A+: High accuracy (uncertainty between 0.0001 Å and 0.001 Å)
• A: Good accuracy (uncertainty between 0.001 Å and 0.01 Å)
• B+: Above average accuracy within class B (uncertainty between 0.01 Å and 0.03 Å)
• B: Moderate accuracy (uncertainty between 0.01 Å and 0.1 Å)
• C: Low accuracy (uncertainty > 0.1 Å)