Spectroscopy

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Spectroscopy is the study of the

interaction between matter and
electromagnetic radiation as a function of
the wavelength or frequency of the
radiation.[1][2][3][4][5][6] Historically,
spectroscopy originated as the study of
the wavelength dependence of the
absorption by gas phase matter of visible
light dispersed by a prism. Matter waves
and acoustic waves can also be
considered forms of radiative energy, and
recently gravitational waves have been
associated with a spectral signature in the
context of the Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).

Analysis of white light by dispersing it with a prism is

an example of spectroscopy.
Spectroscopy, primarily in the
electromagnetic spectrum, is a
fundamental exploratory tool in the fields
of physics, chemistry, and astronomy,
allowing the composition, physical
structure and electronic structure of
matter to be investigated at the atomic,
molecular and macro scale, and over
astronomical distances. Important
applications arise from biomedical
spectroscopy in the areas of tissue
analysis and medical imaging.

Introduction
Spectroscopy and spectrography are
terms used to refer to the measurement of
radiation intensity as a function of
wavelength and are often used to describe
experimental spectroscopic methods.
Spectral measurement devices are
referred to as spectrometers,
spectrophotometers, spectrographs or
spectral analyzers.

Daily observations of color can be related

to spectroscopy. Neon lighting is a direct
application of atomic spectroscopy. Neon
and other noble gases have characteristic
emission frequencies (colors). Neon
lamps use collision of electrons with the
gas to excite these emissions. Inks, dyes
and paints include chemical compounds
selected for their spectral characteristics
in order to generate specific colors and
hues. A commonly encountered molecular
spectrum is that of nitrogen dioxide.
Gaseous nitrogen dioxide has a
characteristic red absorption feature, and
this gives air polluted with nitrogen dioxide
a reddish-brown color. Rayleigh scattering
is a spectroscopic scattering phenomenon
that accounts for the color of the sky.

Spectroscopic studies were central to the

development of quantum mechanics and
included Max Planck's explanation of
blackbody radiation, Albert Einstein's
explanation of the photoelectric effect and
Niels Bohr's explanation of atomic
structure and spectra. Spectroscopy is
used in physical and analytical chemistry
because atoms and molecules have
unique spectra. As a result, these spectra
can be used to detect, identify and
quantify information about the atoms and
molecules. Spectroscopy is also used in
astronomy and remote sensing on Earth.
Most research telescopes have
spectrographs. The measured spectra are
used to determine the chemical
composition and physical properties of
astronomical objects (such as their
temperature and velocity).

Theory
One of the central concepts in
spectroscopy is a resonance and its
corresponding resonant frequency.
Resonances were first characterized in
mechanical systems such as pendulums.
Mechanical systems that vibrate or
oscillate will experience large amplitude
oscillations when they are driven at their
resonant frequency. A plot of amplitude
vs. excitation frequency will have a peak
centered at the resonance frequency. This
plot is one type of spectrum, with the peak
often referred to as a spectral line, and
most spectral lines have a similar
appearance.

In quantum mechanical systems, the

analogous resonance is a coupling of two
quantum mechanical stationary states of
one system, such as an atom, via an
oscillatory source of energy such as a
photon. The coupling of the two states is
strongest when the energy of the source
matches the energy difference between
the two states. The energy of a
photon is related to its frequency by
where is Planck's constant,
and so a spectrum of the system response
vs. photon frequency will peak at the
resonant frequency or energy. Particles
such as electrons and neutrons have a
comparable relationship, the de Broglie
relations, between their kinetic energy and
their wavelength and frequency and
therefore can also excite resonant
interactions.

Spectra of atoms and molecules often

consist of a series of spectral lines, each
one representing a resonance between
two different quantum states. The
explanation of these series, and the
spectral patterns associated with them,
were one of the experimental enigmas that
drove the development and acceptance of
quantum mechanics. The hydrogen
spectral series in particular was first
successfully explained by the Rutherford-
Bohr quantum model of the hydrogen
atom. In some cases spectral lines are
well separated and distinguishable, but
spectral lines can also overlap and appear
to be a single transition if the density of
energy states is high enough. Named
series of lines include the principal, sharp,
diffuse and fundamental series.

Classification of methods
A huge diffraction grating at the heart of the ultra-
precise ESPRESSO spectrograph.[7]

Spectroscopy is a sufficiently broad field

that many sub-disciplines exist, each with
numerous implementations of specific
spectroscopic techniques. The various
implementations and techniques can be
classified in several ways.

Type of radiative energy …

The types of spectroscopy are
distinguished by the type of radiative
energy involved in the interaction. In many
applications, the spectrum is determined
by measuring changes in the intensity or
frequency of this energy. The types of
radiative energy studied include:

Electromagnetic radiation was the first

source of energy used for spectroscopic
studies. Techniques that employ
electromagnetic radiation are typically
classified by the wavelength region of
the spectrum and include microwave,
terahertz, infrared, near-infrared,
 ultraviolet-visible, x-ray, and gamma
spectroscopy.
Particles, because of their de Broglie
waves, can also be a source of radiative
energy. Both electron and neutron
spectroscopy are commonly used. For a
particle, its kinetic energy determines its
wavelength.
Acoustic spectroscopy involves radiated
pressure waves.
Dynamic mechanical analysis can be
employed to impart radiating energy,
similar to acoustic waves, to solid
materials.

Nature of the interaction …

The types of spectroscopy also can be
distinguished by the nature of the
interaction between the energy and the
material. These interactions include:[5]

Absorption spectroscopy: Absorption

occurs when energy from the radiative
source is absorbed by the material.
Absorption is often determined by
measuring the fraction of energy
transmitted through the material, with
absorption decreasing the transmitted
portion.
Emission spectroscopy: Emission
indicates that radiative energy is
released by the material. A material's
blackbody spectrum is a spontaneous
emission spectrum determined by its
temperature. This feature can be
measured in the infrared by instruments
such as the atmospheric emitted
radiance interferometer.[8] Emission can
also be induced by other sources of
energy such as flames, sparks, electric
arcs or electromagnetic radiation in the
case of fluorescence.
Elastic scattering and reflection
spectroscopy determine how incident
radiation is reflected or scattered by a
material. Crystallography employs the
scattering of high energy radiation, such
as x-rays and electrons, to examine the
arrangement of atoms in proteins and
solid crystals.
Impedance spectroscopy: Impedance is
the ability of a medium to impede or
slow the transmittance of energy. For
optical applications, this is
characterized by the index of refraction.
Inelastic scattering phenomena involve
an exchange of energy between the
radiation and the matter that shifts the
wavelength of the scattered radiation.
These include Raman and Compton
scattering.
Coherent or resonance spectroscopy are
techniques where the radiative energy
couples two quantum states of the
material in a coherent interaction that is
sustained by the radiating field. The
coherence can be disrupted by other
interactions, such as particle collisions
and energy transfer, and so often require
high intensity radiation to be sustained.
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)
spectroscopy is a widely used
resonance method, and ultrafast laser
spectroscopy is also possible in the
infrared and visible spectral regions.
Nuclear spectroscopy are methods that
use the properties of specific nuclei to
probe the local structure in matter,
mainly condensed matter, molecules in
 liquids or frozen liquids and bio-
molecules.

Type of material …

Spectroscopic studies are designed so

that the radiant energy interacts with
specific types of matter.

Atoms …

Atomic spectroscopy was the first

application of spectroscopy developed.
Atomic absorption spectroscopy and
atomic emission spectroscopy involve
visible and ultraviolet light. These
absorptions and emissions, often referred
to as atomic spectral lines, are due to
electronic transitions of outer shell
electrons as they rise and fall from one
electron orbit to another. Atoms also have
distinct x-ray spectra that are attributable
to the excitation of inner shell electrons to
excited states.

Atoms of different elements have distinct

spectra and therefore atomic
spectroscopy allows for the identification
and quantitation of a sample's elemental
composition. After inventing the
spectroscope, Robert Bunsen and Gustav
Kirchhoff discovered new elements by
observing their emission spectra. Atomic
absorption lines are observed in the solar
spectrum and referred to as Fraunhofer
lines after their discoverer. A
comprehensive explanation of the
hydrogen spectrum was an early success
of quantum mechanics and explained the
Lamb shift observed in the hydrogen
spectrum, which further led to the
development of quantum
electrodynamics.

Modern implementations of atomic

spectroscopy for studying visible and
ultraviolet transitions include flame
emission spectroscopy, inductively
coupled plasma atomic emission
spectroscopy, glow discharge
spectroscopy, microwave induced plasma
spectroscopy, and spark or arc emission
spectroscopy. Techniques for studying x-
ray spectra include X-ray spectroscopy and
X-ray fluorescence.

Molecules …

The combination of atoms into molecules

leads to the creation of unique types of
energetic states and therefore unique
spectra of the transitions between these
states. Molecular spectra can be obtained
due to electron spin states (electron
paramagnetic resonance), molecular
rotations, molecular vibration, and
electronic states. Rotations are collective
motions of the atomic nuclei and typically
lead to spectra in the microwave and
millimeter-wave spectral regions.
Rotational spectroscopy and microwave
spectroscopy are synonymous. Vibrations
are relative motions of the atomic nuclei
and are studied by both infrared and
Raman spectroscopy. Electronic
excitations are studied using visible and
ultraviolet spectroscopy as well as
fluorescence spectroscopy.

Studies in molecular spectroscopy led to

the development of the first maser and
contributed to the subsequent
development of the laser.

Crystals and extended materials …

The combination of atoms or molecules

into crystals or other extended forms
leads to the creation of additional
energetic states. These states are
numerous and therefore have a high
density of states. This high density often
makes the spectra weaker and less
distinct, i.e., broader. For instance,
blackbody radiation is due to the thermal
motions of atoms and molecules within a
material. Acoustic and mechanical
responses are due to collective motions as
well. Pure crystals, though, can have
distinct spectral transitions, and the
crystal arrangement also has an effect on
the observed molecular spectra. The
regular lattice structure of crystals also
scatters x-rays, electrons or neutrons
allowing for crystallographic studies.

Nuclei …

Nuclei also have distinct energy states

that are widely separated and lead to
gamma ray spectra. Distinct nuclear spin
states can have their energy separated by
a magnetic field, and this allows for
nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy.

Other types
This section is in list format, but may read better
as prose. Learn more

Other types of spectroscopy are

distinguished by specific applications or
implementations:

Acoustic resonance spectroscopy is

based on sound waves primarily in the
audible and ultrasonic regions.
Auger electron spectroscopy is a
method used to study surfaces of
materials on a micro-scale. It is often
used in connection with electron
microscopy.
Cavity ring-down spectroscopy
Circular Dichroism spectroscopy
Coherent anti-Stokes Raman
spectroscopy is a recent technique that
has high sensitivity and powerful
applications for in vivo spectroscopy
and imaging.[9]
Cold vapour atomic fluorescence
spectroscopy
Correlation spectroscopy encompasses
several types of two-dimensional NMR
spectroscopy.
Deep-level transient spectroscopy
measures concentration and analyzes
parameters of electrically active defects
in semiconducting materials.
Dielectric spectroscopy
Dual-polarization interferometry
measures the real and imaginary
components of the complex refractive
index.
Electron energy loss spectroscopy in
transmission electron microscopy.
Electron phenomenological
spectroscopy measures the
physicochemical properties and
characteristics of the electronic
structure of multicomponent and
complex molecular systems.
Electron paramagnetic resonance
spectroscopy
Force spectroscopy
Fourier-transform spectroscopy is an
efficient method for processing spectra
data obtained using interferometers.
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy
is a common implementation of infrared
spectroscopy. NMR also employs
Fourier transforms.
Hadron spectroscopy studies the
energy/mass spectrum of hadrons
according to spin, parity, and other
particle properties. Baryon spectroscopy
and meson spectroscopy are types of
hadron spectroscopy.
Hyperspectral imaging is a method to
create a complete picture of the
environment or various objects, each
pixel containing a full visible, visible near
infrared, near infrared, or infrared
spectrum.
Inelastic electron tunneling
spectroscopy uses the changes in
current due to inelastic electron-
vibration interaction at specific energies
that can also measure optically
forbidden transitions.
Inelastic neutron scattering is similar to
Raman spectroscopy, but uses neutrons
instead of photons.
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy,
also called laser-induced plasma
spectrometry
Laser spectroscopy uses tunable
lasers[10] and other types of coherent
emission sources, such as optical
parametric oscillators,[11] for selective
excitation of atomic or molecular
species.
Mass spectroscopy is a historical term
used to refer to mass spectrometry. The
current recommendation is to use the
latter term.[12] The term "mass
spectroscopy" originated in the use of
phosphor screens to detect ions.
Mössbauer spectroscopy probes the
properties of specific isotopic nuclei in
different atomic environments by
analyzing the resonant absorption of
gamma rays. See also Mössbauer
effect.
Multivariate optical computing is an all
optical compressed sensing technique,
generally used in harsh environments,
that directly calculates chemical
information from a spectrum as
analogue output.
Neutron spin echo spectroscopy
measures internal dynamics in proteins
and other soft matter systems.
Perturbed angular correlation (PAC)
uses radioactive nuclei as probe to
study electric and magnetic fields
(hyperfine interactions) in crystals
(condensed matter) and bio-molecules.
Photoacoustic spectroscopy measures
the sound waves produced upon the
absorption of radiation.
Photoemission spectroscopy
Photothermal spectroscopy measures
heat evolved upon absorption of
radiation.
Pump-probe spectroscopy can use
ultrafast laser pulses to measure
reaction intermediates in the
femtosecond timescale.
Raman optical activity spectroscopy
exploits Raman scattering and optical
activity effects to reveal detailed
information on chiral centers in
molecules.
Raman spectroscopy
Saturated spectroscopy
Scanning tunneling spectroscopy
Spectrophotometry
Spin noise spectroscopy traces
spontaneous fluctuations of electronic
and nuclear spins.[13]
Time-resolved spectroscopy measures
the decay rates of excited states using
various spectroscopic methods.
Time-stretch spectroscopy[14][15]
Thermal infrared spectroscopy
measures thermal radiation emitted
from materials and surfaces and is used
to determine the type of bonds present
in a sample as well as their lattice
environment. The techniques are widely
used by organic chemists,
mineralogists, and planetary scientists.
Transient grating spectroscopy
measures quasiparticle propagation. It
 can track changes in metallic materials
as they are irradiated.
Ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy
Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy
Vibrational circular dichroism
spectroscopy
Video spectroscopy
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Applications

UVES is a high-resolution spectrograph on the Very

Large Telescope.[16]
Cure monitoring of composites using
optical fibers.
Estimate weathered wood exposure
times using near infrared
spectroscopy.[17]
Measurement of different compounds in
food samples by absorption
spectroscopy both in visible and infrared
spectrum.
Measurement of toxic compounds in
blood samples
Non-destructive elemental analysis by X-
ray fluorescence.
 Electronic structure research with
various spectroscopes.

History
The history of spectroscopy began with
Isaac Newton's optics experiments (1666–
1672). According to Andrew Fraknoi and
David Morrison, "In 1672, in the first paper
that he submitted to the Royal Society,
Isaac Newton described an experiment in
which he permitted sunlight to pass
through a small hole and then through a
prism. Newton found that sunlight, which
looks white to us, is actually made up of a
mixture of all the colors of the rainbow."[18]
Newton applied the word "spectrum" to
describe the rainbow of colors that
combine to form white light and that are
revealed when the white light is passed
through a prism.

Fraknoi and Morrison state that "In 1802,

William Hyde Wollaston built an improved
spectrometer that included a lens to focus
the Sun's spectrum on a screen. Upon use,
Wollaston realized that the colors were not
spread uniformly, but instead had missing
patches of colors, which appeared as dark
bands in the spectrum."[18] During the early
1800s, Joseph von Fraunhofer made
experimental advances with dispersive
spectrometers that enabled spectroscopy
to become a more precise and quantitative
scientific technique. Since then,
spectroscopy has played and continues to
play a significant role in chemistry,
physics, and astronomy. Per Fraknoi and
Morrison, "Later, in 1815, German physicist
Joseph Fraunhofer also examined the
solar spectrum, and found about 600 such
dark lines (missing colors), are now known
as Fraunhofer lines, or Absorption
lines."[18]

See also
Applied spectroscopy
Astronomical spectroscopy
 Biomedical spectroscopy
Coronium
Isogenous series
List of spectroscopists
Metamerism (color)
Operando spectroscopy
Scattering theory
Spectral power distribution
Spectral theory
Spectroscopic notation
Telluric contamination
Virtually imaged phased array

Notes
1. H. W. Kroto, Molecular Rotation
 Spectra, Wiley, New York, 1975
(Reprinted by Dover 1992)
2. Philip R. Bunker and Per Jensen,
Molecular Symmetry and
Spectroscopy, NRC Research Press,
Ottawa, 1998[1]
ISBN 9780660196282
3. D. Papoušek and M. R. Aliev, Molecular
Vibrational-Rotational Spectra Elsevier,
Amsterdam, 1982
4. E. B. Wilson, J. C. Decius, and P. C.
Cross, Molecular Vibrations, McGraw-
Hill, New York, 1955 (Reprinted by
Dover 1980)
5. Crouch, Stanley; Skoog, Douglas A.
(2007). Principles of instrumental
analysis. Australia: Thomson
Brooks/Cole. ISBN 978-0-495-01201-6.
. Herrmann, R.; C. Onkelinx (1986).
"Quantities and units in clinical
chemistry: Nebulizer and flame
properties in flame emission and
absorption spectrometry
(Recommendations 1986)". Pure and
Applied Chemistry. 58 (12): 1737–
1742.
doi:10.1351/pac198658121737 .
S2CID 96002955 .
7. "A Taste of ESPRESSO" . Retrieved
15 September 2015.
. Mariani, Z.; Strong, K.; Wolff, M.; Rowe,
P.; Walden, V.; Fogal, P. F.; Duck, T.;
Lesins, G.; Turner, D. S.; Cox, C.;
Eloranta, E.; Drummond, J. R.; Roy, C.;
Turner, D. D.; Hudak, D.; Lindenmaier, I.
A. (2012). "Infrared measurements in
the Arctic using two Atmospheric
Emitted Radiance Interferometers" .
Atmos. Meas. Tech. 5 (2): 329–344.
Bibcode:2012AMT.....5..329M .
doi:10.5194/amt-5-329-2012 .
9. Evans, C. L.; Xie, X. S. (2008).
"Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman
 Scattering Microscopy: Chemical
Imaging for Biology and Medicine".
Annual Review of Analytical
Chemistry. 1: 883–909.
Bibcode:2008ARAC....1..883E .
doi:10.1146/annurev.anchem.1.03120
7.112754 . PMID 20636101 .
10. W. Demtröder, Laser Spectroscopy, 3rd
Ed. (Springer, 2003).
11. Brian Orr; J. G. Haub; Y. He; R. T. White
(2016). "Spectroscopic Applications of
Pulsed Tunable Optical Parametric
Oscillators". In F. J. Duarte (ed.).
Tunable Laser Applications (3rd ed.).
 Boca Raton: CRC Press. pp. 17–142.
ISBN 978-1-4822-6106-6.
12. Murray, Kermit K.; Boyd, Robert K.;
Eberlin, Marcos N.; Langley, G. John; Li,
Liang; Naito, Yasuhide (2013).
"Definitions of terms relating to mass
spectrometry (IUPAC
Recommendations 2013)" . Pure and
Applied Chemistry. 85 (7): 1.
doi:10.1351/PAC-REC-06-04-06 .
ISSN 0033-4545 .
13. N. A. Sinitsyn; Y. V. Pershin (2016).
"The theory of spin noise
spectroscopy: a review". Reports on
Progress in Physics. 79 (10): 106501.
 arXiv:1603.06858 .
Bibcode:2016RPPh...79j6501S .
doi:10.1088/0034-
4885/79/10/106501 .
PMID 27615689 . S2CID 4393400 .
14. Solli, D. R.; Chou, J.; Jalali, B. (2008).
"Amplified wavelength–time
transformation for real-time
spectroscopy". Nature Photonics. 2
(1): 48–51.
Bibcode:2008NaPho...2...48S .
doi:10.1038/nphoton.2007.253 .
15. Chou, Jason; Solli, Daniel R.; Jalali,
Bahram (2008). "Real-time
spectroscopy with subgigahertz
 resolution using amplified dispersive
Fourier transformation". Applied
Physics Letters. 92 (11): 111102.
arXiv:0803.1654 .
Bibcode:2008ApPhL..92k1102C .
doi:10.1063/1.2896652 .
S2CID 53056467 .
1 . "Media advisory: Press Conference to
Announce Major Result from Brazilian
Astronomers" . ESO Announcement.
Retrieved 21 August 2013.
17. Wang, Xiping; Wacker, James P.
(2006). "Using NIR Spectroscopy to
Predict Weathered Wood Exposure
Times" (PDF). WTCE 2006 – 9th
 World Conference on Timber
Engineering.
1 . Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison
(October 13, 2016). "OpenStax
Astronomy" .

References
John M. Chalmers; Peter Griffiths, eds.
(2006). Handbook of Vibrational
Spectroscopy. New York: Wiley.
doi:10.1002/0470027320 . ISBN 978-0-
471-98847-2.
Jerry Workman; Art Springsteen, eds.
(1998). Applied Spectroscopy . Boston:
 Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-08-
052749-9.
Peter M. Skrabal (2012). Spectroscopy -
An interdisciplinary integral description of
spectroscopy from UV to NMR (e-book).
ETH Zurich: vdf Hochschulverlag AG.
doi:10.3218/3385-4 . ISBN 978-3-7281-
3385-4.

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Timeline of Spectroscopy
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