Since 2003, LR Tech offers innovative and high-performance spectro-radiometry solutions (FTIR Spectrometer) to address requirements for in-depth analysis of atmospheric profiles and target signatures measurement.
Inside
- A word from the President
- First ever corporate newsletter
- Technical Corner
- Demystify FT-IR technology and its technical concepts
- Operations
- Some news update on general management and manufacturing
- New USA Agent
- Latest news update
- LR Tech celebrated its 20th anniversary
- Good to know
Word from the President
By Luc Rochette, President
20 years ago, a bold vision took shape, and since then, we have traveled an extraordinary journey. Our company was founded on solid principles of innovation and excellence. Over the years, our team has worked with passion and perseverance to shape the future. Twenty years of success are not just the result of numbers and achievements. They reflect everyone’s commitment. Looking back, we remember the challenges overcame and the projects that marked our journey. We developed new skills and gained valuable experience. As we celebrate 20 years of achievement, we look to the future with optimism. New opportunities present themselves, new challenges await us. I am confident that our company will continue to thrive, innovate and inspire.
Happy 20th anniversary to LR Tech!
Technical Corner
By Vincent Michaud-Belleau, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Adviser
What is Fourier-transform spectrometry
Spectrometers used to measure the spectrum of incident radiation (that is, the intensity of electromagnetic radiation as a function of wavenumber / wavelength / frequency / energy) can usually be grouped into two families:
- Monochromators, based on dispersion or diffraction, which can be understood as mechanically adjustable bandpass filters. What they measure is the total power of the radiation transmitted by the adjustable filter. The spectrum is built as the measured power versus the filter’s passband center.
- Autocorrelators, usually based on interference. What they measure is the power of the radiation summed with a delayed copy of itself. The spectrum is built as the Fourier transform of the interferogram, which is the interference signal measured as a function of (mechanically-adjustable) delay between the copies. This follows from the Wiener-Khinchin theorem.
The Fourier-transform spectrometers (FTS) built by LR Tech are part of the autocorrelator family, and they are sensitive in the infrared (IR) band of the electromagnetic spectrum. Thus, the name FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer) also applies. At their core is a Michelson interferometer composed of a beamsplitter, two moving retroreflectors, focusing optics, and infrared photodetectors. A metrology laser is also used to accurately measure the delay between the two copies of the incident radiation.
In the IR, a Fourier-transform spectrometer displays several advantages over dispersion or diffraction monochromators:
- Jacquinot’s advantage: the circular symmetry of its aperture leads to a higher radiation or photon collection efficiency.
- Felgett’s advantage: in the presence of purely additive noise (typical in the IR), measuring an interferogram instead of a spectrum improves the signal-to-noise ratio.
- Connes’ advantage: the spectral axis can be precisely and accurately calibrated from known properties of the metrology laser.
The first two advantages allow FTS to be used for the study of fast/transient phenomena such as explosions and flare flights.
Operations
By Eric Boisvert, Operation Manager
LR Tech is proud to announce that his Quality Management System was reassessed to ISO9001_2015 requirements on March 11, 2024 for a third 3 years cycle. ISO 9001 is a globally recognized standard for quality management. It helps organizations of all sectors and sizes to improve their performances, meet customer expectations and demonstrate their commitment to quality. Its requirements define how to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve a quality management system, also named QMS. Being compliant to ISO 9001 standard means that LR Tech has put in place effective processes and trained its employees to deliver quality products and services, times after time. On a different topic, LR Tech manufactured and delivered its 60th VSR Spectroradiometer and the 25th Assist Atmospheric Sounder, on March 12, 2024. Time flies!
We want to sincerely thank all our customers for their trust in us!
LR Tech News Update
By Guy Fournier, Sales Director
New product Launch
A new version of LR Tech’s Edgar Software for VSR Versatile Spectro-Radiometer is now available in Chinese language with API.
LR Tech exhibited at AMS Conference
LR Tech participated in the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society at the Baltimore Convention Center in Maryland to discuss atmospheric sounding and related applications.
We also presented our Assist-II, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroradiometer, based instrument adapted to Environmental and Meteorology measurements/requirements.
LR Tech appoints new agent in USA
LR Tech is proud to announce the appointment of Infrared Imaging, LLC. https://infraredimaging.com/ as new agent in USA for the promotion of the VSR in defense markets.