
Irradian Limited PR203 Radiometer
10
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE PR203 IS A BLUE LIGHT
PHOTOTHERAPY RADIOMETER AND NOT SUITABLE FOR THE
MEASUREMENT OF ULTRA VIOLET LAMPS.
IRRADIAN OFFER A RANGE OF ULTRA VIOLET RADIOMETERS
INCLUDING THE UV201, UV202 AND UV203.
Spectral irradiance is the measurement of radiometric light per unit area,
microwatts per centimetre, per unit wavelength (µW/cm
2
/nm). The part of
the spectrum to be measured is defined by the filter fitted onto the
detector and matches the bilirubin action spectrum. Ideally this should be
a filter with a square spectral response. In practice it rarely is and the
filter is defined with a peak response wavelength and a full width half
maximum, FWHM bandwidth. In all applications it is vital to know the part
of the spectrum being measured by the detector and filter, and if possible
to know the spectrum of the light source. In addition the radiometer
should be calibrated to best suit the measurement conditions. It may
even be necessary to have more than one calibration factor for the same
detector and filter combination.
For most applications the measurement plane is horizontal and a cosine
corrected diffuser is fitted to the front of the detector assembly. If the
working surface is not horizontal then placing the detector on or parallel
to the worktop is a more representative measurement of irradiance.
Note that all the light sources in the hemisphere above the detector will
contribute to the measurement. The sources may be obvious, lamps or
windows or even walls or other reflecting surfaces. Take care not to
shadow the detector during all measurements.
For routine measurements of a phototherapy lamp it is necessary to
record the distance to the lamp, the position of the detector with respect
to the lamp and the orientation of the detector.