Macken Instruments 16A CO2 Laser Spectrum Analyzer Grating Spectroscope w/

Macken Instruments 16A CO2 Laser Spectrum Analyzer Grating Spectroscope w/ Manual

The Macken Instruments 16A is a specialized grating spectroscope designed to simultaneously display all lasing transitions of a CO2 laser in a single view. Rather than scanning one line at a time, the 16A projects the full CO2 emission spectrum onto a UV-excited thermal sensitive screen, allowing the operator to immediately see which rotational lines are lasing and at what relative intensity. It is calibrated in both wavelength (micrometers) and rotational line designation, covering the complete CO2 emission band from 9.1 to 11.3 µm. The original CO2 Laser Spectrum Analyzer Instruction Manual and Wavelength Tables booklet is included.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Macken Instruments, Inc. (also known as Macken Optical Engineering), Santa Rosa, CA
• Model: 16A
• Instrument type: Grating spectroscope / CO2 laser spectrum analyzer
• Wavelength coverage: 9.1 – 11.3 µm (microns)
• Number of resolvable CO2 laser transitions: 140 possible rotational lines
• Display: UV-excited thermal sensitive screen — darkens where struck by IR laser beam
• Screen response time: 1/4 second
• Calibration scales: dual — wavelength (µm) and rotational line designation
• Form factor: benchtop / portable; light enough for easy integration into existing lab setups
• Enclosure: aluminum housing with hinged top lid exposing the spectrum screen
• Front panel: wood-grain panel with two adjustment slots/controls
• Rear panel: power cord (coiled gray cable), two input connectors (BNC-style), indicator light, and rotary control knob
• Includes: original Macken Instruments CO2 Laser Spectrum Analyzer Instruction Manual and Wavelength Tables (spiral-bound)

Applications

The Macken 16A is used in CO2 laser laboratories and facilities where identifying which rotational transition lines are lasing — and their relative strengths — is important for laser tuning, line selection, and characterization. CO2 lasers emit on dozens of distinct rotational-vibrational transitions spread across the 9–11 µm band; knowing which lines are active is essential when using grating-tuned or line-selectable CO2 lasers for applications such as isotope separation, spectroscopy, materials processing research, and atmospheric studies. Unlike a scanning monochromator that steps through wavelengths sequentially, the 16A's thermal screen gives an instantaneous snapshot of the entire CO2 spectrum simultaneously — a significant advantage when monitoring a pulsed or rapidly changing laser. Instruments of this type were widely used in CO2 laser research facilities from the 1970s onward and remain relevant wherever legacy or research-grade CO2 laser systems are maintained and tuned. The 16A was manufactured by Macken Instruments (also operating as Macken Optical Engineering) in Santa Rosa, California, a company that specialized in infrared laser diagnostic tools.