| Raman spectroscopy is a well known and characterized inelastic scattering technique capable of giving molecular fingerprints. It has been used in numerous applications ranging from detection of chemical warfare agents to the analysis of cereal grain composition. The combination of a Raman system and a microscope provides distinct advantages for the analysis of samples with varying compositions. Micro-Raman systems allow for the non-destructive analysis of solids in the tens of micrometer size, remote viewing, high spatial resolution, and the possibility of depth profiling with the use of a confocal microscope. Furthermore, use of an ultraviolet light source allows us to take advantage of the Raman signal's dependence upon frequency (Raman signal is proportional to frequency to the fourth power) and of the resonant enhancement known as resonance Raman spectroscopy. Two micro-Raman systems, based upon 514 nm and 244 nm excitation sources, were constructed and evaluated. Several different referenced samples were evaluated and the systems were compared to one another and in terms of theory and studied limits of performance. |
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