Abstract: Apparatus and methods for spectral analysis of a sample are described, for example for carrying out Raman or other optical or spectroscopic analysis of samples such as pharmaceutical dosage forms, including oral solid dosage forms such as tablets or capsules. Such apparatus may comprise delivery optics arranged to direct probe light to a delivery region of the sample, collection optics arranged to collect probe light scattered from a collection region of the sample, and a spectrometer having an entrance port, the spectrometer being arranged to receive the collected probe light from the collection optics at the entrance port of the spectrometer, and to detect spectral features in the received probe light. In particular, the collection optics may comprise Koehler integration optics arranged to process the collected probe light such that the collected light from each point of the collection region is distributed across the entrance port of the spectrometer.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a spectrophotometer comprising a flash lamp. The method comprises receiving light from the flash lamp at a monochromator of the spectrometer, wherein the flash lamp is a short arc noble gas flash lamp with transverse or axially aligned electrodes; configuring the monochromator to progressively transmit the received light at each of a plurality wavelengths of a selected range of wavelengths, wherein the range of wavelengths is associated with a wavelength feature according to a known spectral profile of the flash lamp, and wherein the wavelength feature is a self-absorption feature; and determining a spectrum of the flash lamp, wherein the spectrum comprises a corresponding power or intensity value for each of the plurality of wavelengths.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a spectrophotometer comprising a flash lamp. The method comprises receiving light from the flash lamp at a monochromator of the spectrometer, wherein the flash lamp is a short arc noble gas flash lamp with transverse or axially aligned electrodes; configuring the monochromator to progressively transmit the received light at each of a plurality wavelengths N of a selected range of wavelengths, wherein the range of wavelengths is associated with a wavelength feature according to a known spectral profile of the flash lamp, and wherein the wavelength feature is a self-absorption feature; and determining a spectrum of the flash lamp, wherein the spectrum comprises a corresponding power or intensity value for each of the plurality of wavelengths.