General purpose integrating spheres are widely used in the measurement of light, as sources of uniform radiance or irradiance for calibrating image sensors, cameras and remote sensing instruments and for testing the optical properties of materials. An integrating sphere is a hollow, spherical chamber coated internally with a high reflectance coating that exhibits diffuse reflectance. Labsphere general purpose modular integrating spheres provide greater configuration flexibility than ever before. Choose your sphere by selecting size, ports and reflectance material. The addition of a wide range of interchangeable accessories including light sources, detector assemblies, port reducers and more allows for an endless number of application solutions.
Labsphere GPS General Purpose Integrating Spheres
Integrating spheres are widely used in the measurement of light, as sources of uniform radiance or irradiance for calibrating image sensors, cameras and remote sensing instruments and for testing the optical properties of materials, such as reflectance and transmittance. An integrating sphere is a hollow, spherical chamber coated internally with a high reflectance coating that exhibits diffuse reflectance. Labsphere general purpose integrating spheres (GPS) provide greater configuration flexibility than ever before. Choose your sphere by selecting size, ports and reflectance material. The addition of a wide range of interchangeable accessories including light sources, detector assemblies, port reducers and more allows for an endless number of application solutions.
Key Features
Integrating Sphere Coatings
Labsphere GPS integrating spheres are available with three diffusely reflecting coatings. Choose Spectraflect, a barium sulphate-based coating for the 250-2500nm spectral range with a nominal 98% reflectance. For higher performance, consider a machined Spectralon sphere, a thermoplastic with the highest diffuse reflectance in the 250-2500nm band (up to 99%) which promotes higher sphere throughput, greater radiance uniformity and a much higher level of environmental stability and durability. For the infrared band from 800nm to 15μm, electro-plated Infragold is available, a coating that features a reflectance of approximately 94%. All coatings exhibit a near-perfect Lambertian (or diffuse) reflectance, which means that the reflected radiance from the sphere surface is equal for all directions of view.
Sphere Sizes and Ports
GPS integrating spheres coated with Spectraflect and Infragold are available in 1, 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-inch diameters. GPS Spectralon spheres are offered with internal diameters of 1, 2, 3.3 and 5.3 inches. You can choose your GPS sphere with either 3 or 4 port openings. The 3 port sphere features two ports at 0° and 90° on the horizontal equator, and a third port located at the north pole position. The 4-port sphere is equipped with an additional port located at the 180° position on the horizontal equator. A 1/4-20 threaded mounting boss is fitted to all spheres at the south pole position. Port openings can be closed using accessory port plugs, or their aperture reduced using a port reducer. The sturdy metal mounting ring around all port openings is called a port frame and port frame reducers are available to provide a smaller diameter mounting ring. A baffle plate is fitted to screen the projected view between the 0° and 90° ports on the horizontal equator.
Labsphere GPS integrating spheres are available with and without an accessory kit that includes port plugs and port frame reducers as well as a 1/4-20 tapped post mount, post mount holder and square base plate. Individual accessories can be purchased separately (see the “Accessories” tab).
Model | Coating | Interior Diameter | Input Port at 0° | 90° Port | North Pole Port | 180° Port |
3P-GPS-030-SF | Spectraflect | 3” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
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3P-GPS-040-SF | Spectraflect | 4” | 1.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
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3P-GPS-060-SF | Spectraflect | 6” | 2.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
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4P-GPS-030-SF | Spectraflect | 3” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
4P-GPS-040-SF | Spectraflect | 4” | 1.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
4P-GPS-060-SF | Spectraflect | 6” | 2.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
3P-GPS-010-SL | Spectralon | 1” | 0.25” | 0.25” | 0.25” |
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3P-GPS-020-SL | Spectralon | 2” | 1.0” | 0.5” | 0.5” |
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3P-GPS-033-SL | Spectralon | 3.3” | 1.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
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3P-GPS-053-SL | Spectralon | 5.3” | 2.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
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4P-GPS-010-SL | Spectralon | 1” | 0.25” | 0.25” | 0.25” | 0.25” |
4P-GPS-020-SL | Spectralon | 2” | 1.0” | 0.5” | 0.5” | 0.5” |
4P-GPS-033-SL | Spectralon | 3.3” | 1.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
4P-GPS-053-SL | Spectralon | 5.3” | 2.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
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3P-GPS-010-IG | Infragold | 1” | 0.25” | 0.25” | 0.25” |
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3P-GPS-020-IG | Infragold | 2” | 1.0” | 0.5” | 0.5” | 1.0” |
3P-GPS-030-IG | Infragold | 3” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
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3P-GPS-040-IG | Infragold | 4” | 1.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
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3P-GPS-060-IG | Infragold | 6” | 2.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
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4P-GPS-010-IG | Infragold | 1” | 0.25” | 0.25” | 0.25” | 1.0” |
4P-GPS-020-IG | Infragold | 2” | 1.0” | 0.5” | 0.5” | 1.0” |
4P-GPS-030-IG | Infragold | 3” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
4P-GPS-040-IG | Infragold | 4” | 1.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
4P-GPS-060-IG | Infragold | 6” | 2.5” | 1.0” | 1.0” | 1.0” |
Labsphere GPS integrating spheres can be configured for individual applications using any of the following accessories. Please note that when purchasing a GPS sphere, you can choose either a sphere or a sphere kit, the latter including a bundle of popular accessories (port plugs, port frame reducers and mounting accessories). Each port opening on a Labsphere GPS integrating sphere is equipped as standard with a port frame, a sturdy, grooved metal ring that allows accessories to be precisely and reliably attached to the sphere. As an example, a 1-inch port will feature a 1-inch port frame, onto which any 1-inch accessory can be directly mounted. To fit a 0.5-inch accessory to a 1-inch port frame, you will need to purchase a 1-inch to 0.5-inch port frame reducer.
Accessory | Model | Description |
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Cone Baffles | PFCB-100-SF | The PFCB-100-SF cone baffle assembly diffuses light entering into the integrating sphere from an external source or shields a detector from collecting direct radiation from a light source. The baffle is coated with Spectraflect and mounts onto a 1-inch diameter sphere port frame and is designed to be positioned at the port opposite the light source or detector to prevent the direct exchange of radiation between the two attachments. The cone baffle is tapped for affixing larger baffles. |
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Cosine Diffusers | PA-050-NCD PA-100-NCD | The PA-050-NCD and PA-100-NCD cosine diffuser assemblies attach to 0.5-inch and 1-inch diameter sphere port frames respectively and diffuse the light transmitted onto a detector or fibre optic adaptor that attaches to the same size port frame on the rear of the diffuser. The opal glass diffuser imparts a Lambertian (cosine) response onto the transmitted light intensity. |
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Detectors | GDA-050-U IDA-050-U IDA-050-EXT-U SDA-050-U SDA-050-P | Detector assemblies attach to 0.5-inch port frames and are fitted with a BNC electrical connector and 10-foot coaxial cable. Choose from:
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Fibre Optic Adaptors | FCPC-XXX-ZZ LC-XXX-FB SMA-XXX-ZZ | Fibre optic adaptors mount onto 0.5-inch or 1-inch port frames and couple light between a sphere and a light source, detector or spectrometer via an optical fibre. Choose from:
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Filter Holders | FH-050-050 FH-100-100 FH-200-100 FH-200-200 | Filter holders accept user-supplied optical filters. The rear face of the filter holder presents with a matched port frame, allowing other accessories (for example, cosine diffusers, detectors or fibre optic adaptors) to be attached to the filter holder. All filter holders are designed for filters up to 0.375-inch thick.
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Light Sources | EHLS-100-035R EHLS-100-075R EHLS-100-100R EHLS-100-150R EHLS-100-20D IHLS-100-005 IHLS-100-035 IHLS-100-100 IRLS-100-08 | Incandescent lamps (tungsten halogen) attach to a sphere via a 1-inch port frame. Choose from internally or externally mounted lamp assemblies. External sources allow for continuous radiance adjustment by means of optional variable attenuators (irises). Current regulated DC power supplies are also available.
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Mounting Accessories | Each GPS sphere is fitted with a 1/4 -20 tapped mounting boss located at the south pole. To mount your sphere, we offer the following mounting accessories:
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Port Adaptors | PA-100 | Port adaptors attach to 1-inch port frames and provide a convenient, universal mounting interface. The PA-100 accepts cylindrical objects up to 1-inch diameter. Two thumb screws oriented 90 degrees apart secure the item within the port adaptor. Custom port adaptors are available upon request to mount specific hardware to your sphere. |
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Port Frame Couplers | PA-100-M/M | The PA-100-M/M is a port adaptor that allows two spheres (for example, a main sphere and a satellite sphere) to be coupled together via two 1-inch port frames. | |
Port Frame Expanders | PFE-050-100 | The PFE-050-100 port frame expander attaches to a 0.5-inch port frame and presents an enlarged 1.0-inch port frame. This allows for accessories designed for 1-inch port frames to be coupled to the smaller port. | |
Port Frame Reducers | PFR-FM/M-XXX-YYY-ZZ | A port frame reducer mounts onto a sphere port frame to present a reduced port frame diameter to couple accessories designed for smaller port sizes to be used with larger port frames. Port frame reducers are available as follows:
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Port Plugs | PP-XXX-ZZ | GPS integrating spheres are fitted with a variety of standard size ports, some of which may be unnecessary for a certain application. A port plug must be installed over any unused port in order to maintain light-tight integrity of the sphere and maintain sphere throughput. Port plugs are available as follows:
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Port Reducers | PR-XXX-YYYY-ZZ | A port reducer mounts onto a sphere port frame to present a reduced diameter aperture. Port reducers are available as follows:
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Sample Holders | SH-100-0-SF SH-100-0-IG SH-100-8-SF SH-100-8-IG | The SH series are clip-type sample holders that allow you to position a sample at a sphere port for reflectance or transmittance measurements. The sample holder attaches to a 1-inch port frame. The sample holders are available in two designs and with a choice of either Spectraflect (SF) or Infragold (IG) coatings. SH-100-0-SF/IG present the sample flush to the plane of the sphere port. SH-100-8-SF/IG position the sample at an 8° tilt to the port plane. Testing a sample’s reflectance at 0° versus 8° allows for the measurement of total hemispherical reflectance (specular included), specular-excluded hemispherical reflectance, and – by subtraction of one from the other – the specular component of reflectance. |
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Integrating spheres are widely used in the measurement of light, as sources of uniform radiance or irradiance for calibrating image sensors, cameras and remote sensing instruments and for testing the optical properties of materials.
An integrating sphere is a hollow, spherical chamber coated internally with a high reflectance coating that exhibits diffuse reflectance. Spheres are used as directionally-insensitive collectors of light when combined with photodetectors. Conversely, an internally illuminated integrating sphere emits a field of spatially and angularly uniform luminance or radiance which is perfect for testing and calibrating imaging systems, detector arrays and remote sensing instruments.
Integrating sphere are commonly used in the following applications:
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