Question

What component is the main source of error in IR spectrometer? Why is this the case? How can it be avoided?

Answer 1

The main source of error in IR spectrometer is the thermal background radiation. As, thermal radiations comes in IR part of the spectrum and its available everywhere, it poses problem with the IR spectrometers. Thermal sources mainly include heating elements. Error can also be caused by the temperature variations at the place of use.

All these sources of error can be avoided by cooling the IR spectrometer at a fixed temperature. The appropriate temperature will be from -100 C to -80 C. Maintaining a constant temperature is a very crucial part. The thermal noise gets suppressed at these low temperature and maintaining a constant temperature will remove the signal variation.