[dorkbotpdx-blabber] science question: spectrascopic measurement?

[Mykle Hansen]

On Jan 21, 2009, at 12:31 PMWednesday, montyg at bittybot.com wrote:

> I might be able to help out here.  I have the business end of a  
> spectrograph (variable diffraction grating; stepper-motor driven  
> scanning mirror; and photo-multiplier tube) that should do the  
> trick.  I need to make an interface for it, as I don't have the  
> control box that goes w/ it, but that's not a problem. I can't  
> guarantee any accuracy, but using a couple sources of known  
> wavelengths (like a HeNe laser) as references, we should be able to  
> get a good idea of frequency distribution.

brilliant!  i'd love to be able to have it around some evening just to
do some measurements & show people what they see in light.  i've been
thinking of whipping up a lecture on color perception, not that i'm
an expert but it's kind of interesting.  so it'd make a great adjunct
to that.  it'd also be great to try and dial in nice wide spectrum,
so an early reading (as in early february) would point out holes in
the spectrum that need to be filled, and be of true scientific utility.

> We'd still need to work out some optics to get the light into the  
> unit though.

for ambient light, would it be enough to put it in a diffusing globe
of some kind?  what intensity does it need?

> Are you thinking of setting this up for a day?  This probably  
> wouldn't be suitable for a month long installment.

understood.  even just to have it for one evening would be rad.

-m-

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