Abstract: An optical spectrometer includes a near black body light source, a reference detector in a first optical path and a single measurement detector in a second optical path. A sample cell including a fluid flow line may be positioned in the second optical path upstream of the measurement detector. Optical energy ma be emitted at a plurality of filament temperatures and first and second sets of optical intensities measured at the reference and measurement detectors. The first and second sets of optical intensities may be processed to compute a substantially continuous transmittance spectrum of a fluid sample in the fluid flow line by inverting the acquired optical intensity measurements.