Correction for random errors in infrared integral-intensity measurement

The effects of random errors in relation to working conditions are examined for various integral absorption functions. It is shown that the mean transmission ¯T should lie in the range 0.3 to 0.7 as regards minimization of the random errors in the integral quantities; this corresponds to transmission at band peaks TM of about 0.10. Optimum conditions are also deduced for extrapolated measurements and for structureless bands. Integral intensities can be measured to much higher precision if the optimal conditions are used.