Reflection Probe Stands

Overview
Application
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Features

Securely Hold Up to Three Fiber Optic Bundles or Cables with Ø1/4" Probe or SMA Connectors
Hold Fiber at 45° or 90° with Respect to the Sample
Designed for Diffuse or Specular Reflectance Spectroscopy

These fiber optic probe holders secure Ø1/4" probes or SMA-connectorized fiber optic bundles or cables in close proximity to a sample. They are easily adjustable and will not allow the fiber to move during measurements. Fiber optic probes, such as our reflection/backscatter bundle probes, can be secured with a vertical orientation for specular reflection spectroscopy, or at 45° for diffuse reflection spectroscopy. In addition, the twin 45° mounting bulkheads of the RPS-SMA and RPH-SMA allow two separate fiber patch cables to be used for specular reflection measurements with a 45° angle of incidence (AOI).

Reflection Spectroscopy Application

Thorlabs offers reflection spectroscopy probes that can be used along with our CCD spectrometers, broadband fiber-coupled light sources, and the fiber probe holders sold below to take diffuse reflection, specular reflection, and color measurements.

Reflection Spectroscopy Fiber Probe Bundle

Spectrometers
Thorlabs offers several CCD-based spectrometers for use in the visible, NIR, or UV to NIR spectral ranges. The CCS100 and CCS175 operate in the 350 - 700 nm and 500 - 1000 nm spectral ranges with 0.5 nm and 0.6 nm resolution, respectively. The extended-range CCS200 operates in the 200 - 1000 nm spectral range with 2.0 nm resolution, but the UV range may be heavily attenuated when analyzing broadband spectra.

Light Sources
The SLS201L tungsten-halogen broadband fiber-coupled light source, sold below, delivers a 2796 K blackbody-type spectrum in the 360 - 2600 nm wavelength range and has active electronic stabilization for low spectral and intensity drift. Alternatively, the SLS202L light source delivers similar performance with a 1900 K color temperature and 450 - 5500 nm emission range, while the SLS203L provides free space output with a 1500 K temperature and 500 - 9000 nm emission range. We also offer fiber-coupled LEDs available with a selection of peak wavelengths or a broadband white-light emission spectra and our line of fiber-coupled laser sources offers a selection of options for intense single-wavelength illumination.

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Diffuse Measurement Taken at 45° Using RPH Holder Block

Reflection Probe Fiber Bundles
Thorlabs offers reflection probes with either high-OH or low-OH multimode fiber. Each probe type is available with a sample end that terminates in either a Ø1/4" probe or an SMA905 connector. Our RP22 and RP20 high-OH bundles are suitable for wavelengths from 250 - 1200 nm, while our RP23 and RP21 low-OH bundles are suitable for wavelengths from 400 - 2400 nm. Additionally, if the coaxial illumination provided by a reflection probe bundle is not critical, separate fiber patch cables or bundles with SMA connectors can be used for illumination and signal collection. Our round-to-linear fiber bundles, for example, maximize signal strength at the spectrometer, while our large-core round bundles maximize illumination intensity. Our single-fiber multimode SMA patch cables are useful for precise illumination, or for connection to a fiber-coupled laser.

Reflection Probe Holders
Thorlabs offers the RPS and RPS-SMA fiber probe stands sold below (RPS-SMA shown above and to the right), which allow for precise, stable positioning of the fiber optic probe at an angle of 90° or 45° relative to the sample. The probe holder arms (also sold separately) can also be integrated into other optomechanical setups using Ø1/2" posts. Alternatively, the RPH and RPH-SMA probe holder blocks sit directly on a sample, allowing the fiber tip to be positioned close to the surface and also blocking out room lights from the area under test.

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Adjustable Probe Stand

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Underside of the RPA-SMA Fiber Holder Arm

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Specular Reflectance Measurements at 90°

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Diffuse Reflectance Measurements at 45°

Securely Hold Fiber Optic Probes with Ø1/4" Probe or SMA-Connectorized Sample Leg
Orient Fiber Probe at 90° or 45° with Respect to the Sample
Adjustable Height Arm Accommodates Samples up to at least 2.16" (55 mm) Tall
Ø6" (Ø152.4 mm) Base with Engraved Grid and Concentric Circles
Replacement Arm Assemblies Also Available

Thorlabs' RPS and RPS-SMA Adjustable Fiber Optic Probe Stands are designed to hold Ø1/4" or SMA-connectorized fiber bundle probes (respectively) above a sample at 45° for diffuse measurements or 90° for specular measurements. Each set is comprised of an adjustable fiber holder arm (also available separately), a Ø1/2" optical post with engraved metric height scale, and a Ø6" (Ø152.4 mm) base with engraved concentric circles and grid pattern. The 90° mount of the RPS-SMA stand and RPA-SMA arm places the end of the probe flush with the bottom of the arm, allowing it to be in direct contact with the sample, as seen in the photo to the far right; the arm also features twin 45° mounting bulkheads that allow two separate fiber patch cables to be used for specular reflection measurements with a 45° angle of incidence (AOI).

Sample legs with Ø1/4" probes are held in place on the RPA arm using a TS25H thumbscrew, while SMA-connectorized sample ends screw into the bulkheads on the RPA-SMA arm. Each arm's height can be adjusted using a TS25H thumbscrew, which has a spring-loaded, retractable Delrin^®* tip. The spring-loaded tip provides sufficient force to hold the arm in place as final positional adjustments are being made, allowing for precise height adjustments. When using the RPS stand, samples up to 2.16" (55 mm) tall can be accommodated using the included optical post. The RPS-SMA stand can accommodate samples up to 2.36" (60 mm) tall. For taller samples, the included post can be easily replaced with a longer imperial or metric Ø1/2" post. The post is secured to the base by an M6 cap screw on the underside of the base, which can be removed using a 3/16" or 5 mm balldriver. If replacing the original post with an imperial Ø1/2" post, a SH25S063 1/4"-20 cap screw is also required.

Replacement RPA and RPA-SMA post holder arms are also available separately. These arms can also be used to mount Ø1/4" probes or SMA-connectorized optical fiber within custom optomechanical setups by mounting them to Ø1/2" posts.

*Delrin^® is a registered trademark of DuPont Polymers, Inc.

Compact Probe Holder Block

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Diffuse Reflectance Measurement Using an RPH-SMA Mount

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Specular Reflectance Measurement Using an RPH Ø1/4" Probe Holder

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Underside of the
RPH-SMA

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Schematic of the RPH

Secure Fiber Optic Probes at 90° or 45° with Respect to the Sample
Take Reflectivity and Color Measurements of Flat Surfaces by Placing Holder Block Directly on Sample

The RPH Holder Block for Ø1/4" Fiber Optic Probes allows a fiber bundle tip to be placed directly above a sample. Background light may be blocked by covering the bore that is not in use with masking tape. Two ports are available for securing the probe at 45° or 90° with respect to the sample. The probe can be secured at various heights using one of two TS25H thumbscrews. The probe tip should never be inserted all the way through the block or flush with the bottom of the block, as any contact with the sample can result in damage to the fiber end face.

The RPH-SMA Holder Block for Fiber Optic Probes allows a fiber tip with an SMA905 connector to be placed 0.48" (12 mm) from a sample while subsequently blocking out background light. To use, place the RPH-SMA directly on a flat sample, with the exit port on the bottom of the unit (visible in the photo above) over the area to be measured. The block has three SMA connector bulkheads and two removable CAPN1 bulkhead caps (additional caps sold below). These caps can be used to cover the unused SMA ports during a measurement to block stray room light. In addition, the twin 45° mounting bulkheads allow two separate fiber patch cables to be used for specular reflection measurements with a 45° angle of incidence (AOI).

On both of the holder blocks, the 45° and the 90° ports share a common exit hole, as illustrated in the schematic of the RPH and the photo of the underside of the RPH-SMA above.

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Reflection Probe Stands

Features

Reflection Spectroscopy Application

Adjustable Probe Stand

Compact Probe Holder Block