Introduction to Optical Choppers
Optical choppers are essential devices used in various scientific and industrial applications to modulate light beams. They function by periodically interrupting a continuous light source, allowing for precise control over light intensity and timing. This modulation is crucial for experiments in spectroscopy, fluorescence measurements, and other optical applications where accurate timing and signal detection are required. Hinds Instruments offers two innovative types of optical choppers: the High Speed Optical Chopper (HSOC) and the Photoelastic Modulator (PEM), each designed to meet specific operational needs and wavelength ranges.
Applications
Optical choppers have a wide range of applications across various fields, primarily due to their ability to modulate light intensity effectively. Here are some key applications:
Applications
Optical choppers have a wide range of applications across various fields, primarily due to their ability to modulate light intensity effectively. Here are some key applications:
Typical applications of optical choppers
Lock-in detection: Optical choppers are extensively used in conjunction with lock-in amplifiers to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio in sensitive optical measurements, particularly in spectroscopy
Fluorescence Decay Measurement: They enable the measurement of decay times in fluorescence experiments by chopping the laser beam and analyzing the resulting fluorescence response.
Average Power Reduction: Choppers can reduce the average power of a continuous light beam, making them useful for systems sensitive to high power levels, such as lasers that may overheat.
Rotation Detection: In applications like anti-lock braking systems, optical choppers can detect rotation speeds, providing critical data for system performance.
Photometric Measurements: They are employed in photometry for precise control of light intensity, which is essential for accurate measurements.
These applications highlight the versatility and importance of optical choppers in both scientific research and industrial settings.
Explore our offer
The Optical Choppers provided by Hinds Instruments are resonant devices engineered to operate at a single frequency.
Our partner for Optical Choppers
We present two methods to modulate light: a High-Speed Optical Chopper (HSOC) and a Photoelastic Modulator (PEM).
