Scientists have created a miniature spectrometer for a smartphone

A spectrometer is an analytical instrument based on accumulation, processing, and analysis

Receive this spectrum of radiation.The wavelength, frequency, and intensity of radiation are measured.

Usually, spectrometers are bulky and expensive devices. The authors of the development plan that in production the cost of one sample will beIt costs less than €1.This will allow it to be integrated into smartphones.For comparison: now infrared spectrometers weigh several kilograms, and their production costs thousands of euros.

Of course, there are miniature handheld devices, but they are not suitable for the mass market - in terms of cost and size, they are also difficult to operate.

Like conventional infrared spectrometers, the deviceemits light rays in the infrared range. Light of different wavelengths is then fragmented using a tunable filter and directed to the detector using integrated waveguides. Grid coupling elements with nanostructures collect light reflected from the sample into integrated waveguides. If it is necessary to check the air quality, the light enters a special absorption cell built into one plane. 

Conventional spectrometers consist of discrete moreor less well integrated components. To reduce the size of the device, the scientists integrated beam guidance, separation of individual wavelengths and detection into a single plane.

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