Abstract

Raman spectroscopy, for well-understood fundamental reasons, is a relatively insensitive method of analysis, i.e., it is problematic to study dilute solutions, gases at low pressures, adsorbed species, etc. We describe instrumentation incorporating exit slit plane "multiplex" detection and demonstrate that the instrument improves in sensitivity over its conventional counterpart by a significant margin (in this case >×1000). The value that this increased optical efficiency provides is demonstrated and new applications of Raman spectroscopy are discussed. We include a discussion of the factors controlling the efficiency of illuminating and viewing opaque or highly scattering samples sensitive to high brightness lasers and demonstrate that most commercial spectrometers are set up in such a way that they perform in these cases much less adequately than need be.

High sensitivity and resolution integrated optical system for portable Raman spectrometer

Ming Tang, Xin Wang, Fan Xianguang, Wei Li, Yingjie Xu, Jing Que, Jian He, and Yong Zuo
Appl. Opt. 55(26) 7195-7203 (2016)

Interferometric Raman spectrometry with fiber waveguides

Harold I. Heaton
Appl. Opt. 36(27) 6739-6750 (1997)

Improved sensitivity gas detection by spontaneous Raman scattering

Michael P. Buric, Kevin P. Chen, Joel Falk, and Steven D. Woodruff
Appl. Opt. 48(22) 4424-4429 (2009)

Range Independence of Signal in Variable Focus Remote Raman Spectrometry

T. Hirschfeld
Appl. Opt. 13(6) 1435-1437 (1974)

Design Criteria for a Raman Spectrometer

C. D. Allemand
Appl. Opt. 9(6) 1304-1311 (1970)