Bomem-GRAMS User's Guide

Appendix D
Glossary
nonlinearity
A deviation from the normally linear relation between the output and
the input of a device. Nonlinearity occurs when the output of a device does
not vary in direct proportion to the input, for example, when saturation
occurs.
open beam
A condition in which there is no sample in the sample accessory.
open-beam spectrum
A spectrum acquired in the open-beam condition.
Operation Qualification (OQ)
A test procedure used to ensure that an instrument is operating within
specifications.
optical density (see absorbance)
outlier (or outlier sample)
A sample in a set of samples for which a predicted property value or
spectral structure lies significantly outside the main cluster of
the corresponding property values or structures for that set.
Outliers can be caused by several different factors including unexpected
variations in the property value, inconsistent sample handling, or changes in
the performance of the instrument.
path length
The distance that light travels through the sample during analysis.
predict
In spectroscopy, to obtain the value for a specific property of a sample from
its spectrum by using one or more calibration models.
prediction
In spectroscopy, the value obtained from predicting a property.
Bomem-GRAMS User's Guide 53