Resolution and Noise

doi:10.1117/3.422981.ch8

Book: The Basics of Spectroscopy

Author(s): David W. Ball

Published: 2001

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.422981.ch8

Author Affiliations +

Abstract

There are several issues that communicate how âgoodâ a spectrum is. In this chapter, we will focus on two of them: resolution and noise. Both are factors that can affect the quality of a spectrum. Keep in mind that not all of the issues discussed here are applicable to all types of spectroscopy. A good spectroscopist should recognize which issues will impact the particular spectrum being measured. A spectrum, recall, is usually some graphical representation of electromagnetic radiation absorbed or emitted versus the energy of that radiation. One concern of anyone measuring a spectrum should be, how close can two different spectral transitions be and still be differentiated as different signals? This question relates to the idea of resolution.