Peter Vandenabeele is a Research Professor in Archaeometry at Ghent University. He currently leads the Raman research group, and for several years has taught Raman spectroscopy courses to the University students. He has supervised master and PhD students, researching Raman Spectroscopy in different fields of applications: archaeometry, bacteriology, mycology, geology and pharmaceutics. He has authored and co-authored approximately 50 research papers about Raman spectroscopy and has presented at international conferences. He was Guest editor of a special issue of Journal of Raman Spectroscopy and of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. Currently he is guest editing a special issue of Spectrochimica Acta A and was invited to organise a special issue of Anal. Bioanal. Chem on Raman spectroscopy.

Preface xi

Acknowledgements xiii

Acronyms, Abbreviations and Symbols xv

About the Author xvii

Introduction to Raman spectroscopy xix

1 Theoretical Aspects 1

1.1 Classical Approach 1

1.2 Selection Rule 7

1.3 Energy Levels and Group Frequencies 13

1.4 Raman Intensity 19

1.5 Raman Bandwidth 35

1.6 The General Appearance of a Raman Spectrum 37

1.7 Summary 38

Intermezzo 1.1 The Harmonic Oscillator and the Position of the Vibrational Energy Levels 6

Intermezzo 1.2 The Anharmonic Oscillator and the Position of Vibrational Energy Levels 11

Intermezzo 1.3 Raman Intensity Annotations 30

2 Interferences and Side-effects 39

2.1 Absorption 40

2.2 Fluorescence 40

2.3 Thermal Effects, Photodecomposition and Laser Ablation 43

2.4 Ambient Light and Background Radiation 44

2.5 Summary 44

3 Enhancement of the Raman Signal 47

3.1 Resonance Raman (RR) Spectroscopy 48

3.2 Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) 48

3.3 Summary 59

Intermezzo 3.1 The Analysis of Organic Dyes by SERS 58

4 Raman Instrumentation 61

4.1 Lasers 62

4.2 Detectors 74

4.3 Filters 81

4.4 Dispersion Systems 83

4.5 Components for Transportation of Light 88

4.6 Sample Chambers and Measurement Probes 91

4.7 Noise in Raman Spectroscopy 95

4.8 Summary 99

5 Raman Spectroscopy in Daily Lab-life 101

5.1 Calibration of a Raman Spectrometer 102

5.2 Raman Spectral Post-processing 108

5.3 Interpretation of Raman Spectra of Organic Molecules 116

5.4 Interpretation of Raman Spectra of Inorganic Molecules 131

5.5 Quantitative Aspects of Raman Spectroscopy 134

5.6 Fingerprinting and Spectral Searching Algorithms 137

5.7 Raman Mapping and Imaging 141

5.8 Combination with Other Techniques 145

5.9 Summary 147

Intermezzo 5.1 Micro-Raman Spectroscopy in Microbiology 107

Intermezzo 5.2 Raman Spectroscopy in a Forensics Laboratory 117

Intermezzo 5.3 Pigment Analysis with Raman Spectroscopy 132

Intermezzo 5.4 Detection of Counterfeit Medicines with Raman Spectroscopy 136

Intermezzo 5.5 Exobiology: Raman Spectroscopy Helps the Search for Life on Mars 139

Intermezzo 5.6 Direct Analysis of Precious Art Objects 144

Responses to Questions 149

Bibliography 153

Glossary of Terms 155

SI Units and Physical Constants 157

Periodic Table 163

Index 165

"The book is written in the style of an introductory
university lecture, each chapter beginning with a list of learning
objectives, which can be later used as a quick reference guide to
the chapter contents." (Chemistry World, 1 June
2014)