How to monitor wavelength shift without expensive equipment?

[dnar]

I am keen to perform some experiments cooling the Oclaro 642nm diodes that Dave was kind enough to send me recently, before I complete the red modules for my SATs.

I plan to record both power and wavelength vs temperature, yet don't have access to a spectrograph. Is there a simple way to cobble a simple sensor together that can detect wavelength?

[CountFunkula]

You could use a diffraction grating and a camera (or any imaging-type sensor). This will translate your wavelength shift into a [more easily] quantifiable 1-dimensional pixel/position shift.

An EVEN LOWER-TECH approach would be to use a diffraction grating, a really big room, and a ruler

[dnar]

Thanks for the ideas, I was hoping for an electronic solution so I can log the sweep.

[dnar]

I think I have found my next project.

http://myspectral.com

[mixedgas]

I think I have found my next project.

http://myspectral.com

Not enough resolution at 9 nm steps!!!!!

Let the professional teach you. Or just send him the diode :-) He hangs here sometimes.
You need to read ALL his pages to grok it.

http://redlum.xohp.pagesperso-orange...eanalysis.html

http://redlum.xohp.pagesperso-orange...r/spectra.html

http://redlum.xohp.pagesperso-orange...ratingOSA.html

Some astronomy and chemistry folks have had really good luck with high end, off the shelf, multi-megapixel personal cameras with big lenses and a cheap thin film grating.


If you have a frequency counter with AB ratio inputs it can be done even more precisely using a "toy train wavemeter".

Decent grating spectrometers go for around 200$ on Ebay, and self clocking linear CCDs are even cheaper.

Steve

[dnar]

Thanks Steve, much reading to do.

[mixedgas]

You'd have a sellable product at 1 to 1.5 nm resolution and a cost 1/3rd that of Ocean Optics. USB spectrometers are hugely overinflated in price.

Steve

[dnar]

/puts on Chinese factory voice

What is your target price?

[mixedgas]

/puts on Chinese factory voice

What is your target price?

Less then 500$.
In my case 300$ instead of 2700$


Steve

[steve-o]

How about prisms? They "bend" light at different angles according to wavelength.