{
  "id": 15583618,
  "title": "Custom spectrometers rise to the analytical challenge",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/19/custom-spectrometers-rise-to-the-analytical-challenge",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-19T08:00:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Physics World",
    "slug": "physics-world",
    "url": "https://physicsworld.com/a/custom-spectrometers-rise-to-the-analytical-challenge/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In-house spectrometer design and fabrication enable Torrent Photonics to offer customized solutions at competitive prices. Optical spectrometers are essential for analyzing material content in various samples, including pollutants in air and water or biomarkers in blood. While most spectrometers are integrated into turnkey systems tailored to specific applications, systems engineers sometimes require more specialized instruments than off-the-shelf options can provide.\n\nSince 2008, Torrent Photonics has grown by partnering with equipment manufacturers to design and build custom optical solutions. The company's success stems from its acquisition strategy, focusing on vertical integration and gaining expertise in optical engineering, as well as the ability to manufacture most parts of high-performance spectrometers in-house. According to Hugh Garvey, Torrent's Director of Spectral Devices, customers often seek help when facing challenges but lack the knowledge to solve them. Torrent's internal capabilities allow them to work closely with customers to create spectrometers that meet their specific needs efficiently.\n\nCustomizing spectrometers can be costly and time-consuming, but Torrent's in-house fabrication facilities reduce costs and provide flexibility in modifying design elements. The primary component, the diffraction grating, splits incoming light into different wavelengths, and Torrent specializes in fabricating transmissive gratings. These gratings are etched with closely spaced grooves into fused silica, ensuring efficient light transmission across the required wavelengths. Their transmissive nature also simplifies optical layouts, resulting in more compact spectrometers that are easier to integrate into system designs.\n\nTransmissive gratings offer advantages over reflective designs, as they are less sensitive to temperature and mechanical vibrations, providing better performance in various conditions. Moreover, transmissive gratings simplify alignment with other optical components, further enhancing the spectrometer's overall performance. The compact design and efficient light transmission make Torrent's transmissive gratings an attractive choice for equipment manufacturers seeking optimal performance and integration capabilities.\n\nSmall design specifications are crucial for efficient spectrometer operation. By employing transmissive gratings, Torrent Photonics can optimize resolution across the desired spectral range, ensuring that the spectrometer makes the most effective use of the available image sensor. This optimization results in a higher signal-to-noise ratio and improved effective resolution, crucial for accurate spectral analysis. Although high-performance diffraction gratings are expensive to purchase, Torrent's in-house fabrication capabilities enable them to produce custom gratings at competitive prices, reducing overall assembly costs and providing customers with tailored spectrometers at affordable rates. Additionally, Torrent's expertise in designing and fabricating these specialized components allows them to fine-tune the grating design to meet the customer's specific spectral requirements, ensuring optimal performance for their unique applications.",
  "summary": "By combining in-house manufacturing with engineering expertise, Torrent Photonics works with systems developers to create spectrometry solutions that meet the needs of demanding applications The post Custom spectrometers rise to the analytical challenge appeared first on Physics World .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}