Abstract

A method is suggested for obtaining information on the electromagnetic spectrum of a sample, the method comprising (a) generating a plurality of substantially identical signals, (b) determining the shape of a first number of the signals by performing a first number of scans of a first range of signal width, (c) determining the shape of a second number of the signals by performing a second number of scans of a second range of signal width, the second range being comprised by the first range and comprising a portion of the first range in which the signals have maximum absolute amplitude, (d) combining data from the first number of scans and the second number of scans so as to obtain data corresponding to the shape of the signals, and (e) performing a mathematical transformation of the combined data so as to obtain the information on the electromagnetic spectrum of the sample. According to this method, the electromagnetic spectrum--and especially an absorption spectrum for use in quantitative analysis of the sample--may be obtained faster than is possible using prior art methods.