Calibration produces trusted data based on traceability to standards, awareness of measurement uncertainties, verification and validation. Calibration characterizes the parameters needed to understand and describe a sensor’s performance. Radiometric calibration identifies and quantifies a sensor’s response to a known radiometric input—usually from an integrating sphere. In a perfect scenario, there would be an unbreakable audit trail of calibration from standards to integrating sphere to a satellite sensor in space. To achieve this goal, scientists and engineers start with NIST-traceable radiometric calibration standards.
Integrating spheres show very uniform radiance distribution and are used in a range of applications for the testing and calibration of imaging and non-imaging systems such as focal plane arrays and cameras. They may be used to perform pixel gain normalization, photographic sensitometry, and remote observation system calibration, including the test and calibration of instruments for multi-spectral and hyperspectral imaging. To ensure traceability back to standards, integrating spheres need periodic calibration. Typically, shipment back to a vendor’s lab is rarely practical and scientists require a way to calibrate at their location. That location is usually a room where a large sphere using high wattage FELS lamps can create ambient heat. For some spectroradiometers and radiometers, the heat can cause the silicon arrays used to overheat, giving uncertain results in the UV-VIS wavelengths.
An ideal transfer standard, according to NIST, would have uniform and smooth power distribution with high correlated color temperature across the intended spectral range, low aging rate, uniform spatial intensity distribution, and good reproducibility. To meet the needs of integrating sphere owners who have system lamps with high operating hours, light sources more than two years old, a mandate for annual calibration, or systems too large to send out for calibration, the SR-4500, SR-4500A and SR-6500A spectroradiometers from SPECTRAL EVOLUTION can be used for on-site calibration and deliver stable performance without drift across a range of ambient temperatures.
Lightweight and portable, the SR-4500, SR-4500A and SR-6500A provide the ultimate in high performance and measurement stability across a wide range of ambient temperatures and environments. The SR-4500, SR-4500A and SR-6500A’s measurement stability eliminates variability between various integrating spheres and retains NIST traceability. The SR-4500, SR-4500A and SR-6500A include three thermoelectrically cooled photodiode arrays and have been built to meet the needs of our customers such as NIST and NASA.
SR-4500 and SR-4500A Specifications
- Spectral resolution:
3nm @700nm
8nm @ 1500nm
6nm @ 2100nm - Sampling bandwidth:
Data output in 1 nm increments; 2151 channels reported - Unmatched Noise Equivalence Radiance performance superior to uncooled Si array instruments (1.2 meter fiber optic)
0.2x10-9 W/cm2/nm/sr @ 400nm
0.2x10-9 W/cm2/nm/sr @ 700nm
0.9x10-9 W/cm2/nm/sr @ 900nm - Optional Labview Virtual Interface also available
- DARWin SP Data Acquisition software
- SR-4500 drift stability - 2.0%
- SR-4500A drift stability - 0.1%
SR-6500A Specifications
- Spectral resolution
1.5nm @ 700nm
3.0nm @ 1500nm
3.8nm @ 2100nm - Noise Equivalence Radiance (with 1.5 meter fiber optic)
0.8x10-9 W/cm2/nm/sr @ 400nm
0.3x10-9 W/cm2/nm/sr @ 1500nm
5.8x10-9 W/cm2/nm/sr @ 2100nm - Drift stability: ≤ 0.4%
- DARWin SP Data Acquisition software
