By combining appropriate detectors, wavelength selective devices, and algorithms, it is possible to identify material types, compute concentration of gases and chemicals in mixtures, monitor colours, measure temperature, control film thickness, etc. Such spectrographic methods were traditionally used with laboratory instruments, but are now widely gaining ground as online production and quality control tools, even in harsh environments. These advances are based on new detectors and enhanced wavelength selective components combined with powerful computers for advanced signal processing, as well as on novel optical components like e.g. diffractive optical elements and powerful laser sources.

The department combines physics with signal processing to build complete sensor systems. This generic technology approach applies to the full range from radiowaves to X-rays.

Application examples:

• Gas measurement. Gas concentration or identification is the basis for a number of process control or safety applications. SINTEF ICT has wide experience in gas sensing. This activity is two-fold: on one hand we focus on high performance gas sensing, on the other the focus is on practical (often low cost) single gas sensors.
• Material characterisation for sorting and recycling applications. The green-wave slogan ”Waste is displaced resources” is certainly true. However, recycling works best where resource recovery can be made into profitable industry. The key to profitable recycling lies in reliable and efficient classification and separation technology.
• Water, fat and protein content measurement of foods. Food production faces a number of product quality issues. First, production based on the actual quality of the raw materials will not only help optimise the value of the raw materials, but also enable products with well-defined qualities, e.g. in recipe optimisation. Second, documented product quality enables differentiation of products into different markets, e.g. fatter fish obtains a higher price in Japan than in Europe. Further, increased consumer awareness results in stronger demand on producers on documentation and traceability.
• UV/VIS/Near IR spectroscopy
• Optical properties of materials
• Diffractive optics based spectroscopic components
• Electromagnetic field modelling
• Temperature measurement
• Colour measurement