Hamamatsu Photonics has introduced the PMA-20, a combined spectrometer and photo-detector offering continuous spectrum measurement with 100 µs temporal resolution. The back-thinned CCD linear image sensor delivers improved sensitivity across the UV/vis/NIR wavelength range from 200 nm to 950 nm, with direct input through an optical fibre. It is factory calibrated to guarantee accurate spectral response/wavelength axis characteristics. Applications include protein interaction analysis with absorption spectrum, chemical reaction tracking with a stopped-flow method and photo-physics and laser spectroscopy.