HORIBA Jobin Yvon VUV Grating
| Brand | HORIBA |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Manufacturer Type | Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) |
| Import Status | Imported |
| Model | VUV Grating |
| Pricing | Available Upon Request |
| Diffraction Efficiency | High |
| Stray Light Level | Low |
| Optical Surface Types | Plane, Spherical, Toroidal |
| Grating Types | Monochromator Grating, Spectrograph Grating |
| Aberration Correction | Variable Line Spacing (VLS) |
| Coating Materials | Gold, Platinum, Magnesium Fluoride (MgF₂) |
| Substrate Materials | Silicon, Fused Silica |
| Spectral Range | 1–200 nm |
Overview
The HORIBA Jobin Yvon VUV Grating is a precision optical component engineered for high-fidelity spectral dispersion in the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) region (1–200 nm). Designed and manufactured in France by HORIBA Scientific—a globally recognized leader in advanced spectroscopic optics—the grating leverages over five decades of expertise in diffraction-limited optical design and nanoscale groove fabrication. Unlike conventional UV-Vis gratings, VUV gratings operate under high-vacuum or inert-gas-purged environments to mitigate atmospheric absorption (primarily O₂ and H₂O), enabling reliable measurement of electronic transitions in atoms, molecules, and solid-state materials. This grating is integral to synchrotron beamlines, laser-based VUV sources, plasma diagnostics systems, and space-borne spectrometers where spectral resolution, radiometric accuracy, and long-term stability are mission-critical.
Key Features
- High Diffraction Efficiency: Optimized blaze profiles and advanced coating technologies (e.g., evaporated gold or MgF₂) maximize photon throughput across the 1–200 nm range—critical for low-signal applications such as time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy or weak-emission plasma analysis.
- Ultra-Low Stray Light Performance: Precision groove geometry control and proprietary surface cleaning protocols minimize higher-order diffraction and scattering, supporting dynamic ranges exceeding 10⁵:1 in calibrated VUV monochromators.
- Aberration-Corrected Design: Variable Line Spacing (VLS) technology compensates for optical aberrations inherent in off-axis mounting configurations, delivering diffraction-limited spot sizes at focal planes without auxiliary mirrors or corrective optics.
- Multi-Substrate & Multi-Coating Flexibility: Available on silicon or fused silica substrates with thermal expansion coefficients matched to common VUV instrument mounts; coatings selected for optimal reflectance vs. wavelength (e.g., Pt for 10–50 nm, MgF₂ for 115–200 nm).
- Surface Form Options: Supplied in plane, spherical, or toroidal configurations to support diverse optical layouts—including Czerny-Turner, Seya-Namioka, and Rowland-circle spectrographs—as well as imaging spectrometers requiring astigmatism correction.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
This VUV grating is compatible with all major commercial and custom-built VUV instrumentation platforms, including HORIBA’s own iHR series monochromators, McPherson 249/302 spectrographs, and Acton SP2750 systems. It meets stringent requirements for ultra-high vacuum (UHV) compatibility (<1×10⁻⁹ mbar outgassing rate after bakeout) and is certified free of halogenated contaminants per ASTM E1527-22. While not a standalone analytical device, its optical performance directly supports compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 calibration traceability when integrated into accredited VUV measurement systems. All gratings undergo full interferometric surface verification and atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based groove morphology inspection prior to shipment.
Software & Data Management
As a passive optical component, the VUV grating does not incorporate embedded firmware or digital interfaces. However, its spectral response characteristics—including groove density, blaze angle, and coating reflectance curves—are fully documented in NIST-traceable calibration reports provided with each unit. These datasets integrate seamlessly into standard spectroscopic modeling tools (e.g., PROOF, GD-CALC, Synchrotron Radiation Workshop) and instrument control software (e.g., LabVIEW-based DAQ systems, Python-driven PyVISA frameworks) for accurate wavelength calibration, efficiency correction, and stray light modeling. HORIBA also provides optional Zemax OpticStudio-compatible .ZAR files for system-level optical design validation.
Applications
- Vacuum ultraviolet circular dichroism (VUV-CD) for protein secondary structure analysis below 180 nm
- Atomic and molecular absorption/emission studies in fusion plasma diagnostics (e.g., ITER diagnostic port monitors)
- Characterization of wide-bandgap semiconductors (e.g., AlN, BN, diamond) via reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy
- Space instrumentation calibration for solar EUV/VUV telescopes (e.g., Solar Orbiter/EUI, LYRA on PROBA2)
- Time-resolved VUV photoionization mass spectrometry (PIMS) of reactive intermediates
- Attosecond science setups requiring sub-10-meV energy resolution in high-harmonic generation (HHG) beamlines
FAQ
What vacuum conditions are required for optimal operation?
Operation requires pressures ≤1×10⁻⁵ mbar to prevent oxygen absorption bands from obscuring the 110–200 nm region; UHV (<1×10⁻⁸ mbar) is recommended for measurements below 100 nm.
Can this grating be used in ambient air?
No—ambient air strongly absorbs VUV radiation; use only in evacuated or nitrogen/purged optical paths.
Is custom groove density or substrate curvature available?
Yes—HORIBA offers full customization of line density (200–3600 l/mm), radius of curvature (±50 mm to ±∞), and coating stack configuration upon technical review.
How is calibration traceability established?
Each grating ships with a certificate referencing NIST SRM 2036 (VUV reflectance standard) and includes AFM-measured groove depth uniformity data (±0.3 nm RMS across aperture).
What is the typical lead time for customized gratings?
Standard delivery is 12–16 weeks; expedited fabrication (8-week lead time) is available for qualified research programs under prior agreement.
