Spectroscopy Software Add-on Calculates PAR

A new add-on module for Ocean Optics’ SpectraSuite Spectrometer Operating Software allows users of the company’s miniature spectrometers and Jaz optical sensing systems to calculate Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), an important parameter for evaluating the effect of light on plant growth. SpectraSuite- PAR uses the absolute irradiance spectrum (captured by the spectrometer) of the light incident on plants and other samples and conveniently converts the irradiance values from μW/cm2 (microwatts per square centimetre) to μmol/m2/s (micromoles per square meter per second), the measurement unit more commonly used for PAR analysis.

In addition to calculating total PAR, SpectraSuite-PAR allows users to define up to five ‘wavelength bins’ (the range of wavelengths to be covered in each data bin), which can be correlated to different phases of plant growth.

SpectraSuite-PAR is a particularly powerful analytical tool when used as part of a field-portable Jaz sensing system configured for horticultural applications. Jaz is a family of modular, stackable components that share common electronics and communications. At its heart is a miniature CCD-array spectrometer, or light measuring device, available with userselected grating and slit options optimised for a variety of optical sensing application needs. Also incorporated into the Jaz stack is a powerful microprocessor and onboard display with data logging capability, so that full spectra data can be acquired, processed and stored to an SD card without the need for a PC. Jaz irradiance measurement software is also available and nicely complements the SpectraSuite-PAR functions.

SpectraSuite is the standard operating software for Ocean Optics spectrometers. The modular, Java-based spectroscopy software platform operates on Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems.