A Low-Cost Time-Resolved Spectrometer for the Study of Ruby Emission

A low-cost time-resolved emission spectrometer optimized for ruby emission is presented. The use of a Class II diode laser module as the excitation source reduces costs and hazards. The design presented here can facilitate the inclusion. of time resolved emission spectroscopy with laser excitation sources in the undergraduate laboratory curriculum. The ruby decay data show evidence of radiation trapping, an interesting optical phenomenon discussed in the research literature.