<title>Raman spectroscopy: what do we need for field measurements?</title>

Abstract

Success in field measurements requires both appropriate instrumentation and appropriate data acquisition and treatment strategies. Recent advances in instrumentation have improved the utility of Raman spectroscopy for field measurements. This presentation focuses on data acquisition and treatment strategies. We have built into our measurement systems both hardware and software to provide automated wavenumber and intensity calibration and correction. Field measurements demand better wavenumber accuracy than is generally appreciated. In our approach, wavenumber calibration is based on atomic line spectra. Intensity axis calibration requires correction for pixel-to-pixel and wavelength-dependent sensitivity variations of the detector and wavelength- and time-dependent throughput variations of the probe and spectrograph optics. The data needed for these corrections are obtained by measurement with a calibrated white light source and with a standard sample. This presentation describes reference materials and how the calibration and corrections are affected.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.