Optical Techniques

acridinium ester

chemiluminescence material used in clinical lab 

chemiiluminescence

light emission when an electron returns from an excited energy level to ground level (chemical reaction of oxidation, which produces light) 

fluorometry

detects emitted light and follows beers law 

luminol

chemiluminescence material not used in the clinical lab 

nephlometry

measures the amount of light that is scattered toward a detector at a variety if angles 

nanometer

measurement of wavelength (10^-9) 

turbidimetry

measures a decrease in percent transmittance through a solution 

source

is to be a source of radiant energy 

entrance slit

is to focus light into a narrow beam 

monochrometer

is to isolate the desired wavelength and exclude others 

exit slip

is to determine the range of wavelengths that will reach the sample 

sample

is to act as a receptacle for the sample

detector

converts the transmitted light energy to electrical energy 

readout device

to display the electrical signal from the detector in an understandable form 

wavelength

lambda: is the distance traveled by one complete wave cycle

frequency

 is the number of cycles per second (inversely related to wavelength) 

amplitude

peak height of the wave