Optical analysis system and elements to isolate spectral region

1. A method of selecting components for a multivariate optical computing and analysis system to isolate a spectral region, the method comprising:

selecting a spectral region of interest;

selecting a spectral element with a predetermined transmission characteristic to control a spectral range of an illumination source; the spectral element being made of a solid state material;

illuminating a sample with the illumination source;

analyzing an optical frequency returned by the sample relative to the spectral region of interest; and

controlling at least one of a cut-on wavelength or a cut-off wavelength by altering a thickness of the solid state material.

2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the spectral region of interest is a near IR region of about 700 nm to about 3500 nm.

3. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the spectral region of interest is a visible/ultraviolet region of about 200 nm to about 1000 nm.

4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the spectral region of interest is a mid IR region of about 200 nm to about 1000 nm.

5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the spectral element is a plurality of spectral elements and at least one of the spectral elements is a multivariate optical element.

6. A method of selecting components for a multivariate optical computing and analysis system to isolate a spectral region, the method comprising:

selecting a spectral region of interest;

selecting a spectral element with a predetennined transmission characteristic to control a spectral range of an illumination source; the spectral element being made of a chemical material;

illuminating a sample with the illumination source;

analyzing an optical frequency returned by the sample relative to the spectral region of interest; and

deleting an absorbance of a gas from an optical spectrum of a sample, the gas being an interferent or the gas being ambient in the system.

7. The method as in claim 6 , further comprising pressurizing the gas.

8. The method as in claim 6 , further comprising placing the gas in a high- pressure cell.

9. The method as in claim 6 , further comprising dissolving the gas in a fluid.

10. A method of selecting components for a multivariate optical computing and analysis system to isolate a spectral region, the method comprising:

selecting a spectral region of interest;

selecting a spectral element with a predetermined transmission characteristic to control a spectral range of an illumination source;

illuminating a sample with the illumination source; and

analyzing an optical frequency returned by the sample relative to the spectral region of interest;

wherein the spectral element is made of a mixture of materials.

11. The method as in claim 10 , wherein the mixture of materials includes a solution of a gas in a solid material.

12. The method as in claim 10 , wherein the mixture of materials includes a dispersion of a liquid in a solid material.

13. The method as in claim 10 , wherein the mixture of materials includes a clathrate-type material.

14. A method of selecting components for a multivariate optical computing and analysis system to isolate a spectral region, the method comprising:

selecting a spectral region of interest;

selecting a spectral element with a predetermined transmission characteristic to control a spectral range of an illumination source;

illuminating a sample with the illumination source; and

analyzing an optical frequency returned by the sample relative to the spectral region of interest;

wherein the spectral element is made of a synthetic material.

15. The method as in claim 14 , further comprising stabilizing a spectral characteristic of the synthetic material in a transmissive region.

16. The method as in claim 14 , further comprising analyzing a performance of the synthetic material and accounting for a characteristic of the synthetic material.

17. The method as in claim 14 , further comprising analyzing a performance of the synthetic material and incorporating a variation based on the synthetic material into a design of a multivariate optical element.

18. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising selecting the spectral element for a detector, the spectral element being configured to minimize a band-edge effect in the spectral region of interest.

19. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising blocking a band-edge region in the spectral region of interest using a filtering medium.