Raman Spectrometers

Raman spectrometers measure the wavelength and intensity of inelastically scattered light from molecules. They are used to determine the chemical composition of a sample based on the wavelength and intensity of the light passing through the sample. Raman spectroscopy is based on the theory of Raman scattering, which states that light is scattered due to the vibrations of the molecules in the substance or substrate through which light passes. This vibration scatters the light and changes its energy from that of the incident light. In this way, Raman spectrometers use the Raman effect by comparing the different energies of the incident light and the scattered photons.

Raman spectrometers are similar to infrared (IR) spectrometers in that both an IR spectrometer and Raman spectometer measure the vibrational energies of the molecules in a sample. Infrared spectroscopy or IR spectroscopy measures the absorption of light of certain energies that correspond to the vibrational energy of the molecule. Since Raman scattering is different from infrared absorption, the two methods of spectroscopy are often used to provide complementary data.

Raman spectrometers often use lasers, the most typical being an argon ion laser. A laser spectrometer offers many benefits, including focused, high-powered excitation of the tested substance which results in a high incidence of light scattering. Because the Raman effect measures the difference between scattered and incident light, Raman spectrometers are particularly useful in gathering data from a small section of a sample. Consequently, Raman spectrometers are being used to develop confocal microscopy techniques. The incident laser radiation of the Raman spectrometer is focused with the microscope objective on a point in the sample. The resulting Raman spectrum contains data almost exclusively from a point within the sample.

Suppliers of Raman spectrometers are located across the United States and across the world. They meet a variety of regulatory requirements and quality standards.

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