Standardized specifications of 2D optical spectrometers

In recent years two-dimensional (2D) optical spectrometers have proliferated, and a large number of designs and refinements are available. While researchers typically provide a few instrumentation specifications, many important quantifiable technical parameters are unreported. This lack of disclosure is a barrier to new researchers. Many of the unreported parameters can produce spectral artifacts and noise and are therefore likely responsible for reproducibility problems. This microarticle contains a list of parameters that can be used for all wavelength ranges and spectrometer designs, with a focus on the most common implementation of kHz laser systems using the BOX beam geometry. Adoption of this standardized reporting protocol will lead to further spectrometer refinements and improve reproducibility.