AUTOPOL II Automatic Polarimeter

The AUTOPOL® II is designed as a general purpose automatic polarimeter for budget-focused Contract Laboratories, Food Laboratories, and College Chemistry Laboratories. 

Great price yet packed with features and Quality! The Autopol® II offers the same standard and optional features as the Autopol® I but allows greater wavelength flexibility with 589nm and 546nm standard wavelengths and optional 365nm, 405nm, 436nm, 578nm, and 633nm available.

Autopol® II Polarimeter Standard Features:

• 0.01° Arc Accuracy.
• 589nm and 546nm wavelengths. (A total of 2-4 wavelengths may be ordered initially or as needed)
• Built in thermoprobe for temperature measurement.
• Windows Embedded for direct connection to the network server and flexible USB Printing.

Optional Features:

• TempTrol™ Automatic Electronic Heating & Cooling 15° – 40°C ±0.2°
• 365nm, 405nm, 436nm, 578nm, and 633nm wavelengths. (A total of 2-4 wavelengths may be ordered initially or as needed)
• AP Accuracy Option: 0.003° Arc Optical Rotation
• AP Resolution Option: 0.01, 0.001° Arc Selectable.

Quality Components

Rudolph manufactures its entry-level polarimeter with the same high quality optics as its more expensive instruments. While other manufacturers in this price range use Polaroid Plastic Dichroic Sheet Polarizers, Rudolph does not. Instead, Rudolph uses the same high quality Glan Thompson Calcite Polarizers used in its high accuracy models (Figure A).

Why are high quality polarizing prisms important? Because prisms are two of the most critical optical components in the polarimeter. Polaroid prisms are made of a polymeric plastic where the molecules are stretched and oriented in a specific direction so as to linearly polarize light. These types of plastic sheet polarizers are very low price ($50.00 USD) and are vulnerable to heat, warp over time, deteriorate from moisture, and also have greater light absorption than Calcite Polarizers. In many cases, the plastic polarizers must be replaced in 3 – 5 years. Glan Thompson Calcite Polarizers are comprised of a carbon crystalline structure similar to diamond and have excellent light transmission characteristics. The quality of these prisms is so good, Rudolph guarantees its prisms over the life of the polarimeter.

Automatic Polarimeter Sample Temperature Monitoring

As shown in Figure B, the Autopol II comes with a Temperature Probe so that sample temperature can be displayed and printed. However, if your product requires Temperature Control, then the Autopol II will most likely not be accurate enough for this type of sample, as is the case for 98% of pharmaceutical applications where a Certificate of Analysis must be issued.

Wavelengths and Polarimeter Accessories

The Autopol® II automatic polarimeter comes with two built-in wavelengths that are selectable via the touch screen: 589nm (often referred to as the Sodium D-Line) and 546nm. Optional wavelengths of 365nm, 405nm, 436nm, 578nm, and 633nm are available. The Autopol® II also includes the Standard Polarimeter accessories Package shown in Figure C or you can upgrade to the Calibration Package shown in Figure D.

Specifications