Spectrofluorometer

Abstract

In order to provide a spectrofluorometer which measures the emission polarization spectrum of a sample at high precision and with ease, a first spectrum signal I.sub.HV (.lambda..sub.EM) and a second spectrum signal I.sub.HH (.lambda..sub.EM) are formed by scanning the wavelength of an emission monochromator. A third spectrum signal I.sub.VH (.lambda..sub.EM) and a fourth spectrum signal I.sub.VV (.lambda..sub.EM) are also formed. In these terms, the first suffix H of the signals means that excitation light irradiated at the sample has a horizontal polarization direction while the first suffix V of the signals means that excitation light irradiated at the sample has a vertical polarization direction. The second suffix H of the signals means that fluorescence light detected by the detector has a horizontal polarization direction. The second suffix V of the signal means that fluorescence light detected by the detector has a vertical polarization direction. Using these signals the spectrofluorometer produces a signal G(.lambda..sub.EM) representative of the ratio between the signal I.sub.HV (.lambda..sub.EM) and the signal I.sub.HH (.lambda..sub.EM). Also, a correction signal G(.lambda..sub.EM).multidot.I.sub.VH (.lambda..sub.EM) is formed of the ratio signal G(.lambda..sub.EM) and the third spectrum signal I.sub.VH (.lambda..sub.EM). Then, a signal I.sub.VV (.lambda..sub.EM)-G(.lambda..sub.EM).multidot.I.sub.VH (.lambda..sub.EM) representative of the difference between the correction signal G(.lambda..sub.EM).multidot.I.sub.VH (.lambda..sub.EM) and the fourth spectrum signal I.sub.VV (.lambda..sub.EM) is divided by a signal I.sub.VV (.lambda..sub.EM)+G(.lambda..sub.EM).multidot.I.sub.VH (.lambda..sub.EM) representative of the sum between them. The resulting signal ##EQU1## is indicated as the emission polarization spectrum by the spectrofluorometer.