IsoPlane

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Changing the Way the World Sees Spectroscopy!

Princeton Instruments
IsoPlane A Revolutionary
Imaging Spectrograph

IsoPlane

soPlane

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Courtesy of K. Fujita, Osaka University

IsoPlane

26.593
20.176

17.802

4.938

Patent Pending

Inspired Innovation
Imagine a spectrograph that sharply focuses data
at every wavelength, allows the unrestricted use of
large-format detectors, and directs photons where
they are supposed to go.
Imagine a spectrograph that overcomes the limitations
of traditional Czerny-Turner designs by significantly
improving upon the image quality and resolution
afforded by toroidal mirrors.

The spectroscopists and engineers at Princeton Instruments

not only imagined it, they built it!
We invite you to see the truly remarkable results
the Princeton Instruments IsoPlane, a revolutionary,
aberration-free imaging spectrograph!

www.princetoninstruments.com/isoplane

IsoPlane

The Name Says It All

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The Isoplanatic Patch

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The area of sky around a reference star

over which high-resolution imaging is
possible is called the isoplanatic patch.
If the sky coverage of an imaging
technique is substantially less than 100%,
it will generally vary in proportion with
the area of the isoplanatic patch.

Czerny-Turner spectrograph

The exclusive, state-of-the-art optical design

utilized in Princeton Instruments IsoPlane imaging
spectrograph means this revolutionary instrument
provides a sharply focused image across the entire
focal plane, as compared to the smeared image of
the Czerny-Turner.

The diameter of the isoplanatic patch for

an imaging technique has a substantial
impact* on the applicability of that
technique to astronomical imaging.

* http://www.mrao.cam.ac.uk/telescopes/coast/theses/rnt/node17.html

With the IsoPlane spectrograph more photons end

up in the peak, increasing the height and effective
signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), rather than in the wings,
where they contribute to the background noise.

Why waste time acquiring

data you cant use?
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IsoPlane
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Aberration-Free Imaging = Outstanding Performance

Outstanding spatial resolution

Simple, intuitive focusing and alignment

Optimum camera positioning is critical to acquiring
high-quality spectral data. In conventional
spectrographs, it is difficult to repeatably align a
bulky camera. The IsoPlane moves the focus to a
micrometer-controlled mirror mount, right where it
should be.

Superior spectral resolution

Eliminating the field astigmatism and reducing coma

means that spectral lines are equally sharp across the
focal plane. Resolution and peak intensity are preserved
over the entire 27 mm width of a CCD sensor.

IsoPlane

IsoPlane

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Near diffraction-limited imaging means spectral lines are sharp, with

intensity concentrated in the peak, not the wings. Linewidth reduction by
1/2 to 2/3 vs. conventional spectrographs improves spectral resolution
by 2x to 3x, with double the peak height.

Multichannel spectroscopy

Poor imaging in Czerny-Turner spectrographs results

in crosstalk, reduced contrast ratio, and excess noise.
The IsoPlane provides fiber images that are sharp
and distinct, allowing 4x or more spectra to be
resolved over the height of a CCD sensor.

On-axis grating rotation takes full advantage of

the IsoPlanes f/4.6 aperture for all wavelengths.
Kinematic mount with torque limiter ensures
perfect alignment every time when changing grating turrets.

www.princetoninstruments.com/isoplane

www.princetoninstruments.com/isoplane

Missing But Not Missed

Spherical aberration, coma, and astigmatism are conspicuously absent from IsoPlane images!

Spherical aberration
Spherical aberration arises when mirrors or lenses
are used to focus light to form an image.
This aberration appears as a diffuse symmetrical
blur on an image. It limits both the spatial and
spectral resolution of a spectrograph.

Coma

The IsoPlane greatly reduces

coma, thus preserving spectral
resolution at all wavelengths.

IsoPlane

IsoPlane

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15x10

Intensity (counts)

Coma occurs when mirrors are used

to image a source off-axis. Coma
appears as a comet-shaped tail on
a focused image or spectral line
(i.e., a spectral line is asymmetrically
broadened). Coma limits the spectral
resolution of a spectrograph at most
wavelengths, as it can be eliminated
at only a single grating angle.

Czerny-Turner spectrograph

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Note:
Red peak height is
only 44% of blue
peak height

0
435.0

435.2

435.4

435.6

435.8

436.0

436.2

436.4

436.6

Wavelength (nm)

By eliminating the blur, the IsoPlane focuses more of the light on a given pixel,
significantly increasing the measured peak height as seen here.

www.princetoninstruments.com/isoplane

Missing But Not Missed

Astigmatism
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Czerny-Turner spectrograph

Astigmatism is caused by using lenses or mirrors to image a source off-axis and appears as
vertical elongation of an image (i.e., the bow-tie effect or the vertical distortion of a fiber
image). Astigmatism limits both spectral and spatial resolution, deteriorating towards the
edges of the focal plane in a Czerny-Turner spectrograph.

Astigmatism is completely
eliminated in the IsoPlane.

www.princetoninstruments.com/isoplane

Perfected Performance
Focal plane image
The IsoPlane eliminates field astigmatism
and greatly reduces coma, enabling
crisp, detailed imaging across a
27 x 8 mm focal plane.

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Czerny-Turner spectrograph

Spectral lines at focal plane center

The IsoPlane yields near-Lorentzian spectral lines at the center of the focal plane. Czerny-Turner
spectrographs deliver inferior line shapes.

IsoPlane

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Czerny-Turner spectrograph

www.princetoninstruments.com/isoplane

Perfected Performance
Binning a spectrum from an image, horizontal cross-section
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Binning

The IsoPlane produces

clear, distinct images that
make it easy to separate
multiple spectral channels
through binning.

Czerny-Turner spectrograph

IsoPlane (top) high fluence across the

focal plane, all spots are the same size
vs. Czerny-Turner spectrograph (bottom)

Preserving intensity

Eliminating crosstalk

Preservation of intensity, horizontal cross-section

Crosstalk comparison

The IsoPlane produces sharp spectral

lines of constant width and height across
the focal plane, whereas Czerny-Turner
spectrographs do not.

While Czerny-Turner spectrographs suffer from excessive crosstalk between

adjacent channels, the IsoPlane eliminates it. Two-dimensional focal plane
array detectors can record multiple spectra simultaneously, yet conventional
spectrographs are ill-equipped for the job. Astigmatism in Czerny-Turner
spectrographs means that only a few separate vertically spaced fibers can
be resolved over the width of the sensor.

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Czerny-Turner spectrograph

Czerny-Turner spectrograph

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Milestones in Spectrograph Design

1930s

1950s

1988

1995

2012

Czerny-Turner
design first
described

Scanning
monochromators
commercially
introduced

Acton Research*
introduces the
SpectraPro
triple-grating,
direct-drive
monochromator/
spectrograph

Acton Research
releases the
SpectraPro with
toroidal mirrors
for improved
imaging for CCDs

The Advent of the IsoPlane!

* Now part of Princeton Instruments!

Meet an IsoPlane Engineer

An Interview with Dr. Jason McClure Chief Scientist at Princeton Instruments and Inventor of the IsoPlane
Q: Do you think that spectroscopists had generally
accepted that this type of spectrograph would
never be invented?
A: I believe so. The commercial imaging CzernyTurner spectrograph is roughly 30 years old and
has seen little to no improvement in that time. I
think many spectroscopists simply believed the
design was fully mature and that no further
discoveries were possible.
Q: Was the development of the IsoPlane motivated by your own
frustration with inferior imaging spectrographs?
A: We at Princeton Instruments had been searching for methods
to improve the imaging performance of the Czerny-Turner
spectrograph for several years. It was only after reading
a book on the aberration theory of the reflecting telescope
that I happened upon the idea of the IsoPlane. I was truly
motivated by the elegant treatment of image aberration in
the Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope through the use of Seidel
aberration theory. From this theory and some creativity, the
IsoPlane SCT-320 was developed. It is named the SchmidtCzerny-Turner (SCT) from the Schmidt-like corrector the
instrument uses to help achieve its imaging performance.

Q: Why has it taken so long for this product

to be developed?
A: Seidel aberration theory is over 150 years old,
and the Czerny-Turner spectrograph is about 
years old. I think the reason the IsoPlane
took so long to be developed was because
we were all looking in the wrong place for the
answers. Astronomers have hundreds more years
experience than spectroscopists, and have fully
developed Seidel aberration theory to describe
every variant of the telescope. Such history does
not exist for the spectrograph. We are proud to
play a role in creating history with the discovery of
the IsoPlane!

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www.princetoninstruments.com/isoplane

Stellar Software Support

The IsoPlane is supported by LightField 4.2 from
Princeton Instruments, a 64-bit data acquisition
platform for spectroscopy and imaging. LightField
combines complete control over Princeton
Instruments spectrographs and cameras with
easy-to-use tools for experimental setup, data
acquisition, and post-processing. Both unique and
revolutionary, LightField lets researchers realize
the full potential of the new IsoPlane imaging
spectrograph.

Primary Applications

The IsoPlane is ideally suited for use in a wide range of applications, including:

Multichannel spectroscopy
Microspectroscopy, including Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence, and photoluminescence
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and similar high-resolution techniques
Fourier-domain spectroscopy
Biomedical imaging

Courtesy of K. Fujita, Osaka University

Multichannel imaging with the IsoPlane (28 channels)

Courtesy of K. Fujita, Osaka University

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www.princetoninstruments.com/isoplane

Please download the data sheet from

www.princetoninstruments.com/isoplane
for specifications and more information.
Hardware Compatibility
The IsoPlane can be configured with a variety of Princeton Instruments
CCD, EMCCD, ICCD, and InGaAs cameras. Contact your sales engineer
for further details.

About Princeton Instruments

Drawing daily upon a rich heritage that encompasses more than a half-century of spectroscopy expertise,
Princeton Instruments designs and manufactures world-renowned monochromators and spectrographs, precision
optical coatings, and high-performance light detection systems tailored for spectroscopy, imaging, industrial, and
x-ray applications.
Key Princeton Instruments innovations include the first spectroscopy cameras to utilize photodiode arrays and CCDs, as well
as the first high-performance, gated, ICCD camera for spectroscopy. The introduction of the IsoPlane imaging spectrograph
continues this unrivaled tradition of excellence.

Contact Princeton Instruments for additional information.

www.princetoninstruments.com | info@princetoninstruments.com
USA TOLL-FREE +1.877.474.2286 | USA +1.609.587.9797

Rev A0

Copyright 2012 Princeton Instruments, Inc. All rights reserved. IsoPlane

and LightField are trademarks of Princeton Instruments, Inc. All other brand
and product names are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners and manufacturers.