Single-detector system, with beam-splitter

Fig. 2 (A) Block diagram of a double-beam-in-time spectrophotometer (single-detector system with a beam-splitter) a chopper motor can be used in place of the mirror. (B) Block diagram of a double-beam-in-space spectrophotometer.

The double-beam system is used extensively for spectroscopic absorption studies. The individual components of the system have the same function as in the single-beam system, with one very important difference. The radiation from the source is split into two beams of approximately equal intensity using a beam splitter, shown in Fig. 2.28. One beam is termed the reference beam, the second beam, which passes through the sample, is called the sample beam. The two beams are then recombined and pass through the monochromator and slit systems to the detector. This is illustrated schematically in Fig. 2.28. In this schematic, there is a cell in the reference beam that would be identical to the cell used to hold the sample. The reference cell may be empty or it may contain the solvent used to dilute the sample, for example. This particular arrangement showing the monochromator after the sample is typical of a dispersive IR double-beam spectrophotometer. There are many commercial variations in the optical layout of double-beam systems. 

---