With Raman spectroscopy, scientists can measure, with an impressive degree of precision, the concentration levels and other attributes of matter in any phase (gas, liquid or solid). Its applications have shown more and more promise in an optimistic number of fields. How It WorksHigh-sensitivity Raman measuring tools gather information about substances at the micron level. Usually, a monochromatic light is focused upon the object that is being measured. The laser beam will refract in a unique pattern depending on the substance it lands on. Observing the scatter pattern enables technicians to identify the substance or substances being looked at, their degree of density, and other traits. The technique -- which is actually a series of slightly varying measuring strategies -- is named after the Raman effect, wherein electromagnetic waves collide with a molecule and affect its bonds. In this case, a predictable wave of light is applied, making it possible to interpret the outcome. How It Is UsedThe most common application of TouchRaman spectroscopy is in the field of chemistry because it gets its information from reacting to chemical bonds. However, its applications are wide-ranging. In the pharmaceutical field, specialized devices such as TouchRaman probes are used to measure active ingredients in drugs, and which form those ingredients have at the molecular scale. TouchRaman tools such as these can also be key in physics to determine the crystalline state of materials, as well as measure their temperature. Some TouchRaman probes are even capable of gathering information regarding corrosive materials that would ordinarily destroy the measuring instrument. Spatially Offset Raman SpectroscopyAnother kind of Raman spectroscopy, called "spatially offset Raman spectroscopy," is capable of ignoring surface layers and can be employed to, for instance, positively identify counterfeit drugs without opening their containers. They can also be employed to track changes in biological cells, in some ways similar to an ultrasound. Experiments are in the making to determine whether various TouchRaman and similar instruments can be employed to identify the presence of explosive materials at a distance, and even to check whether individual cells in the body are cancerous, which could make surgery substantially less risky and more precise, boosting favorable prognoses considerably. MicrospectroscopyRaman spectroscopy can be employed to examine polymers, cells, and forensics evidence on a microscopic level. Technicians can even use it to analyze the level of cholesterol or other substances in foods. CustomizationWhile manufacturers such as fiber optic chemical sensors sometimes sell ready-made TouchRaman and similar devices to government, academic and pharmaceutical organizations, those manufacturers can also customize and construct tools perfectly suited to the measurement and observation requirements of the purchaser.