Brief System Operation Guide

Below, the brief system operation guide is provided. 

Please note that you must complete the system training is provided by Dr Sam Eardley (s.eardley@qmul.ac.uk) before using the system. 

Detailed information about system capabilities and operation can be found in the internal help system of the Renishaw WIRE software. 

Please ensure that all sockets the system  (PC, lasers and the spectrometer)  is connected to are turned on. 

Initial start up

Please note that you should allow 10-15 min warm-up time for stable operation of 785 nm and 633 nm lasers, and up to 30 mins for 325 nm and 442 nm lasers.  

1. Start the control PC. 

2.  Turn on the laser(s) you intend to use using laser key(s). (Please also note that 325 nm laser requires UV optics installed and UV objectives to be used. Contact a technical officer if you need to use 325 nm laser).  

3. Turn on the spectrometer using the black side switch.

4. Start WIRE 5.1 software and select "Reference unreferenced motors" when prompted. Wait for the system to initialise. 

5. Allow further 10-15 minutes for the CCD detector to cool to the operating temperature.

You are now ready to calibrate the system. 

System calibration

First of all, please ensure that the correct laser and grating combination are selected in the main menu as previous user may have used different setting. For example, if you can see 442 nm laser and 2400 grating combination in the main menu, but you intend to use 785 nm laser, then select 785 nm and 1200 grating combination. Calibration will not work without the correct setting in the main menu. 

The system calibration is curried out by opening a calibration template - use "Measurement - Open Measurement Template". This will bring up a selection of calibration files - select the file appropriate for your wavelength (but remember to use only "xxx-si-ref" files) and load it. This will open data window - you are now ready for calibration.  Select "Tools-Calibration-Quck Calibration" to complete the process. Run measurement and check that Si reference peak is located at 520 cm^-1. The system may report a calibration error if the peak is not found at the expected location. 

Should calibration be out by a few cm^-1 go to "Tools-Calibration-Offset" and select appropriate offset, run the calibration procedure again and check that Si peak is at 520 cm^-1. When selecting offset, please keep in mind that this is the value that will be subtracted form the current peak location. As such is the current peak location is 518 cm^-1, then select offset of "-2" (without the quotes). Please note, that the system resolution is around 1 cm^-1 (depending on the grating choice), hence no offset is required  if Si calibration peak is located between 519 and 521 cm^-1.

Sometimes, when the system is significantly out of calibration, the system may report an error in locating the peak and will provide you with the possible peak location: e.g. it may report that no peak was located around 520 cm^-1, but the nearest peak is at 500 cm^-1. In such a case, again, enter an appropriate offset (-20 in this case) and run the calibration again. 

Important: Take a note and record the value of the Si calibration peak intensity (in cps) and Si peak position (in cm^-1) for your reference the next time you use the system. 

You are now ready to do your own experiment which can be done by setting up a measurement in "Measurement-Setup". 

Sample measurements

The Raman microscope stage is set up for use of standard microscope slides. When loading a side with your sample, please make sure that an objective with the longest working distance (i.e. 5X) is in place. Otherwise, there is a danger of damaging an objective. In order to load a microscope slide with your sample, lower the microscope stage  and pull the stage towards you using the lever on the microscope stage. Once the sample is loaded, return the stage back under the 5X objective and focus on your sample. Always start your sample alignment procedure with the lowest magnification objective (i.e. 5X, has the longest working distance) and move onto the desired objective in increments. Thus if the desired objective is 50X, then move in increments of  5X-20X-50X, with careful sample alignment at each step.  Please remember that large magnification objectives have very short working distances ( less then 1 mm) and can be easily damaged if they come in contact with a sample (or the microscope slide). Please report any such incidents to Dr Sam Eardley (s.eardley@qmul.ac.uk) and Dr Andrei Sapelkin (a.sapelkin@qmul.ac.uk). 

Remove all your samples from the microscope enclosure and close the door.

Shut down the WIRE software and PC.

Turn off the spectrometer. 

Shut down the laser (lasers).