Absorption noise sources

Absorption noise sources flicker noise, 119 lintiting noises, 120l shot noise, 119... 

In the experiment, the transmission intensities for the excited and the dark sample are determined by the number of x-ray photons (/t) recorded on the detector behind the sample, and we typically accumulate for several pump-probe shots. In the absence of external noise sources the accuracy of such a measurement is governed by the shot noise distribution, which is given by Poisson statistics of the transmitted pulse intensity. Indeed, we have demonstrated that we can suppress the majority of electronic noise in experiment, which validates this rather idealistic treatment [13,14]. Applying the error propagation formula to eq. (1) then delivers the experimental noise of the measurement, and we can thus calculate the signal-to-noise ratio S/N as a function of the input parameters. Most important is hereby the sample concentration nsam at the chosen sample thickness d. Via the occasionally very different absorption cross sections in the optical (pump) and the x-ray (probe) domains it will determine the fraction of excited state species as a function of laser fluence. 

Raman spectroscopy has some particular advantages for biofluid analysis as well. The sharpness of fundamental vibrational peaks enables dense packing of information into a spectral interval, much more so than for the broader peaks typical of fluorescence or visible/NIR absorption. These extra degrees of spectral freedom are important when it comes to measuring the concentration of minor contributors above the various noise sources. 

All of the flicker noises can be effectively eliminated by the use of double-beam optics in conjunction with a background correction system such as Zeeman splitting or a well-aligned (or wavelength-modulated) continuum source. Thus the ultimate limiting noise in atomic absorption is source shot noise, which can be reduced (relative to total source intensity or I, ) by increasing the source intensity, up to the point of optical saturation. 

Laser Fluorescence Noise Sources. Finally, let us examine a technique with very complex noise characteristics, laser excited flame atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LEAFS). In this technique, not only are we dealing with a radiation source as well as an atomic vapor cell, as In atomic absorption, but the source Is pulsed with pulse widths of nanoseconds to microseconds, so that we must deal with very large Incident source photon fluxes which may result in optical saturation, and very small average signals from the atomic vapor cell at the detection limit [22]. Detection schemes involve gated amplifiers, which are synchronized to the laser pulse incident on the flame and which average the analyte fluorescence pulses [23]. 

For a system that was perfect (i.e., no additional noise sources) except for incomplete absorption of all incident X-rays by the detector, the signal would be ) o) and die noise )> giving a reduced SNR... 

Figure 23-5. A noise shield can reduce the sound level between a noise source and a receiver. Effectiveness improves as the angle 0 gets smaller. A reflective ceiling can reduce the effectiveness of a shield, especially if the reflective angle X is small, nearly perpendicular to the source and receiver. When X is large, a ceiling with sound absorptive surface properties can reduce the ceiling reflection.

Noise reduction (AIR) is the difference in the average sound pressure level between the source room and the receiving room. When the receiving room is relatively reverberant and the measurements are made in the reverberant fields of the two rooms the relationship between TL and AIR is as follows, where S is the surface area of the sound barrier between the two rooms and is the amount of sound absorption in the receiving room (7). 

Ideal Performance and Cooling Requirements. Eree carriers can be excited by the thermal motion of the crystal lattice (phonons) as well as by photon absorption. These thermally excited carriers determine the magnitude of the dark current,/ and constitute a source of noise that defines the limit of the minimum radiation flux that can be detected. The dark carrier concentration is temperature dependent and decreases exponentially with reciprocal temperature at a rate that is determined by the magnitude of or E for intrinsic or extrinsic material, respectively. Therefore, usually it is necessary to operate infrared photon detectors at reduced temperatures to achieve high sensitivity. The smaller the value of E or E, the lower the temperature must be. 

If it is necessary to add extra attenuation to a duct it is essential to decide on the required amount. If only a relatively small degree of absorption is required, first a part of the duct must be lined with absorber. The length of duct to be lined will be determined by the degree of attenuation required and the thickness by the noise frequency. Data for these factors are available from many sources and are usually published as tables. 

Stability may not be as much of a problem as with a diode source. However, there are problems with this method as well. The range of tunability is limited by the absorption properties of the nonlinear crystal which generates the difference frequency. At present, tunability is limited to wavenumbers >2500 cm-1 and conversion efficiencies are low. Typical laser powers in the CH2 experiments (82) were 20 n W (compared to the power of the CO lasers, 10 mW-1 W). This produces a situation where IR detectors, particularly fast ones, may be close to or background noise limited. However, it is clear that more applications of this technique will appear in the future. 

The basic features of an epr spectrometer are shown in Figure 2.95. The microwave source is a Klystron tube that emits radiation of frequency determined by the voltage across the tube. Magnetic fields of 0.1 — 1 T can be routinely obtained without complicated equipment and are generated by an electromagnet. The field is usually modulated at a frequency of 100kHz and the corresponding in-phase component of the absorption monitored via a phase-sensitive lock-in detector. This minimises noise and enhances the sensitivity of the technique. It is responsible for the distinctive derivative nature of epr spectra. Thus, the spectrum is obtained as a plot of dA/dB vs. 

A problem encountered with atomic absorption is that emission from the flame may fall on the detector and be registered as negative absorption. This can be eliminated by modulating the light source, either mechanically or electronically, and using an a.c. detector tuned to the frequency of modulation of the source. D. C. radiation, such as emission from the flame, will then not be detected. A high intensity of emission, however, may overload the detector, causing noise fluctuations. 

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