Detector selection guide

The table below can be used to identify which type of linear array detector best suits your spectroscopy application based on:

Wavelength range
High sensitivity versus large dynamic range/high SNR
Integration time

For wavelengths below 1100 nm (UV, VIS, NIR), you should use silicon detectors (CCD or CMOS/NMOS), and for wavelengths above 1100 nm, you should choose InGaAs detectors.

For silicon detectors, choose CMOS/CCD’s when you have low light levels and therefore need high sensitivity, and choose NMOS, when you have higher light levels and want the best signal-to-noise ratio and/or dynamic range.

Choose cooled detectors, when your application requires long integration times.

		UV-VIS-NIR 190-1100 nm wavelength range		NIR 900-2500 nm wavelength range
		High Sensitivity		High SNR
Integration time		Detector type	Examples	Detector type	Examples
		Deep cooled CCD	Andor iVac 316
10 sec	-	Deep cooled CCD	Andor iVac 316
		1-stage TE cooled BT-CCD	Hamamatsu S7031 series	2-stage TE cooled InGaAs	Hamamatsu G9206
1 sec	-	1-stage TE cooled BT-CCD	Hamamatsu S7031 series	2-stage TE cooled InGaAs	Hamamatsu G9206
		Non-cooled BT-CCD	Hamamatsu s10420 series	1-stage TE cooled InGaAs	Hamamatsu G9203/G9204/G9214
100 msec	-

10 msec	-
		Non-cooled CMOS	Hamamatsu S11639 Hamamatsu S13496 Hamamatsu S14739	Non-cooled InGaAs	Hamamatsu G11620 series Hamamatsu G13913 series
1 msec	-

100 microsec	-

10 microsec	-

1 microsec	-	Non-cooled BT-CCD w. Global shutter	Hamamatsu S11156