12 Agilent 1260 Infinity DAD and MWD User Manual
1
Introduction  
Optical System
Lamps The light source for the UV-wavelength range is a deuterium lamp with a 
shine-through aperture. As a result of plasma discharge in low-pressure 
deuterium gas, the lamp emits light over the 190 nm to approximately 800 nm 
wavelength range. The light source for the visible and SWNIR wavelength 
range is a low noise tungsten lamp. This lamp emits light over the wavelength 
range 470 – 950 nm.
Achromat 
(Source Lens)
The achromat receives the light from both lamps and focuses it so that the 
beam passes through the flow cell.
Holmium Oxide 
Filter
The holmium oxide filter is electromechanically actuated. During the holmium 
filter test it moves into the light path.
Cell Support 
Window
The cell support window assembly separates the holmium filter area from the 
flow cell area.
Flow Cell 
Compartment
The optical unit has a flow cell compartment for easy access to flow cells. A 
variety of optional flow cells can be inserted using the same quick, simple 
mounting system. The flow cell can be removed to check the optical and 
electronic performance of the detector without having influences from the 
flow cell.
Spectrograph The spectrograph material is ceramic to reduce thermal effects to a minimum. 
The spectrograph consists of the spectrograph lens, the variable entrance slit, 
the grating and the photodiode array with front-end electronics. The 
spectrograph lens refocuses the light beam after it has passed through the flow 
cell. The sampling interval of the diode array is < 1 nm over the wavelength 
range 190 – 950 nm. Depending on the wavelength this varies from 1.0 to 1.25 
diodes per nanometer (for example a diode every 0.8 to 1 nm).
For a small wavelength range, the small non-linearity could be neglected. With 
the wavelength range from 190 – 950 nm a new approach is required to 
achieve wavelength accuracy over the full range. Each spectrograph is 
calibrated individually. The calibration data is stored in the spectrograph on 
an EEPROM. Based on these data, the built-in processors calculate absorbance 
data with linear intervals (1.0, 2.0, …) between data points. This results in an 
excellent wavelength accuracy and instrument-to-instrument reproducibility.
Variable Entrance 
Slit System
The micro-slit system makes use of the mechanical properties of silicon 
combined with the precise structuring capabilities of bulk micro-machining. It 
combines the required optical functions — slit and shutter — in a simple and 
compact component. The slit width is directly controlled by the 
micro-processor of the instrument and can be set as method parameter.