Simple light guide for measuring irradiance in an aqueous oxygen electrode chamber.

The light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis are often measured with Clark-type oxygen electrodes yet the irradiance level inside aqueous oxygen electrode reaction vessels is seldom reported due to the difficulty of measuring light inside a small volume chamber. We describe a simple light guide terminating in a 90 degrees prism that can be inserted into a reaction vessel. Incoming irradiation is directed to a commercially available quantum sensor positioned at the other end of the light guide. Both materials for and construction of the device are inexpensive.