Light Measurement
In the realm of light measurement, two prominent tools often come to the fore: photometers and spectral light meters. While both instruments are essential for assessing various properties of light, they serve distinct purposes and operate on different principles.
- Photometers are ideal for general lighting assessments, they measure overall light intensity and are simpler and more affordable than spectral light meters
- Spectral light meters are used for detailed spectral analysis and color-related applications, they analyze the distribution of light across different wavelengths and are more complex and typically more expensive.
To choose the proper lighy measurement instrument user should understand the fundamental differences between photometers and spectral light meters, exploring their unique functionalities, applications, and the contexts in which each is most effectively used.
| Radiometric Quantity | Radiometric Unit |
| Irradiance | W/m2 |
| Radiance | W/(sr.m2) |
| Radiant intensity | W/sr |
| Radiant flux | W |
| Photometric Quantity | Photometric Unit |
| Illuminance | lux |
| Luminance | cd/m2 |
| Luminous intensity | cd |
| Luminous flux | lumens |
Radiometric Measurement of Light
Radiometry involves measuring the absolute properties of electromagnetic radiation across all or part of the spectrum, including UV to IR ranges. These measurements are essential for applications like solar cell efficiency calculations, where incident optical power is compared with generated electrical power.
Key radiometric quantities include:
- Radiant Energy: Total energy emitted or received over time.
- Irradiance: Power per unit area.
- Radiance: Power per unit projected area per solid angle.
For more detailed description of analysis, refer to our blog post
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Radiometric light meters:
Radiometers (for measuring radiant power)
Spectroradiometers (for measuring spectral distribution of radiation)
SPECTRORADIOMETERS
RADIOMETERS
