The Photoelectric Spectrometry Group was formed in July 1948 in
Cambridge. The Group was born out of a need for a forum of users to
discuss problems and methodology associated with the new era of
photoelectric spectrometers. Over the years the aims and objectives of
the Group have been broadened to include many aspects of ultraviolet and
visible spectrometry. In 1973, the Group renamed itself the UV
Spectrometry Group (UVSG). The techniques of fluorescence, diffuse
reflectance, ORD and CD were included in the Group's interest. In 1979,
the UVSG became a registered charity. The present Group membership is
some 200 practising spectroscopists, mostly from the UK with a small but
growing overseas membership. In August 1977, the UVSG Committee set up
three Working Parties: Cells for UV-Visible Spectrophotometers;
Photometric and Wavelength Standards; and the Calibration of
Fluorimeters. It was felt that a wealth of information and expertise in
the practice of spectrometry was available within the Group and that it
was appropriate for this to be gathered together in the form of a number
of monographs. Initially the intention was that these should be
circulated only amongst the Group membership. However, the suggestion
was made that these monographs would be of interest to other scientists
outside our specialist Group. The conclusions of the first two Working
Parties were combined in Volume 1 of this series, and this monograph
summarizes the work of the third Working Party.