Peter Vandenabeele 
Practical Raman Spectroscopy [PDF ebook] 
An Introduction

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

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 Ph D 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.