Raman spectroscopy is a technique that has shown a lot of potential in an exciting number of new industries and shed promising light on many types of scientific questions. Understanding the TechnologyTouchRaman probes and various other tools that use Raman spectroscopy technology gather data about substances at the molecular scale. Typically, a monochromatic light is shined upon the subject material. The laser beam will scatter uniquely depending on the material it lands on. Measuring the scatter pattern makes it possible to identify the substance or substances being observed, their degree of density, and other properties. The technique -- which is actually a collection of different measuring approaches -- is named after the Raman effect, wherein electromagnetic waves are directed at a molecule and affect its bonds. To start out with, a coherent wave of light is applied, making it easier to interpret the end result. How It Is UsedThe most common utilization of TouchRaman spectroscopy is in chemistry because it collects its information from reacting to chemical bonds. However, its uses are wide-ranging. In the pharmaceutical field, specialized tools like TouchRaman probes are utilized to identify active ingredients in medications, and the form those ingredients have at the molecular level. TouchRaman devices like these can also be valuable in physics to determine the crystalline structure of substances, as well as measure their temperature. Some TouchRaman probes can even gather details regarding caustic substances that would normally do damage to the measuring device. Spatially Offset Raman SpectroscopyAnother kind of Raman spectroscopy, known as "spatially offset Raman spectroscopy," is capable of "seeing" past surface layers and can be used to, for example, notice counterfeit medications without opening their containers. They can also be employed to monitor biological cells, like an ultrasound. Research projects are in the making to see whether various TouchRaman and similar instruments can be employed to find explosive substances from a distance, and even to discern whether individual living cells are cancerous, which could make surgery substantially less risky and more precise, boosting favorable prognoses. MicrospectroscopyRaman spectroscopy can be employed to examine polymers, cells, and forensics evidence on a microscopic level. It can even be used to measure the level of cholesterol or other substances in foods. CustomizationWhile manufacturers such as fiber optic chemical sensors sometimes sell premade TouchRaman and similar devices to government, academic and pharmaceutical organizations, those manufacturers can also customize and construct instruments ideally attuned to the measurement and observation needs of the individual order.