The relationship between measurement error and photometer cosine response performance index

Abstract

Performance indices $f{\text{'}}_1$ through to f₁₂ are used in selecting and comparing photometers. These indices are expressed in percent with the ideal being 0%. Uncertainties may be expressed in the same way and performance indices are often mistaken for uncertainties. There is no functional relationship between performance indices and uncertainties but a limiting relationship has been previously established for $f{\text{'}}_1$ . Here, an analogous limiting relationship is shown for the cosine response index, f₂, by simulating a range of realistic photometer responses and measurements of a sample of fourteen lighting scenarios. For most lighting scenarios the limiting error is the f₂ value plus 1%. However, some (mainly outdoor) scenarios give much larger errors so care is required in estimating errors in such lighting measurements.