Characterizing and measuring the vacuum ultraviolet output of high harmonic lasers or doing research with the bright light generated by these sources requires specialized tools. McPherson, Inc. (Chelmsford, MA USA) has spectrometers, monochromators and ready solutions for research and experimental spectroscopy at short, high-energy wavelengths. These systems work under vacuum with sensitive detectors. They can analyze wavelength regions from below one nanometer to about 300 nm.

The McPherson Inc. , is an important tool for scientists developing new pulsed and tunable x-ray laser sources. It helps detect laser harmonics from 4eV to 1.2keV. It works directly with charge coupled detectors (CCD) or gated microchannel plate (MCP) intensifiers. Tune the wavelength centered on the detector from ~1 to 300nm. The dispersion and range intercepted across the CCD or MCP depends on the diffraction grating in use.

Flat field and corrected spectrographs are available too. By design, these match a given spectral region to a detector, direct detection CCD or microchannel plate intensifier. Providing wide spectral range collection these are valuable survey instruments. We have corrected models dedicated for the ~1 to 20nm region as well as flat field instruments for the ~10 to 160nm region.

The McPherson Inc. Model 248/310G is suitable for work in the 10-6 torr vacuum range. An ultra high vacuum (UHV) version, suitable for work in the 10-10 torr vacuum range, is also available. An good assortment of diffraction gratings is available to match the experimental region of interest. The 248/310 features clean stainless steel construction and compact design good for work with laboratory discharge light sources and detectors. It is also ideal for astrophysics calibration work.

McPherson grazing incidence spectrometers and monochromators utilize reflective optical designs. They feature concave diffraction gratings that disperse and focus wavelength specific light. They achieve good reflective efficiency at short wavelengths with grazing incidence optics (nominally 3 degrees grazing or 87 degrees from an optics normal.) McPherson instruments record spectra, and plot wavelength vs. intensity across many laser harmonics.