What is Spectroscopy?

Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between Matter and Radiation

Spectroscopy was originated through study of visible light dispersed according

to its wavelength, by a prism or Grating.

Nature shows spectrum of sunlight by its dispersion through condensed water

droplets in the atmosphere.

Spectroscopy is a very fundamental and powerful exploratory tool in all Branches

of Science and Medicine, e.g. in:

 Physics
 Chemistry
 Astronomy
 Biology
 Medical Science

It allows the composition, physical structure and electronic structure of matter

to be investigated at atomic scale, Molecular scale, macro scale, and
over Astronomical distances. Important applications arise from Biomedical
Spectroscopy in the areas of Tissue analysis and Medical Imaging.

Now we understand the terms used in its definition i.e. Radiation, Interaction
and Matter, one by one:

1. Radiation

Radiation could be in the form of:

 the Electromagnetic Radiation
 the Matter Waves
  the Acoustic waves (Pressure waves)

Recently discovered Gravitational Waves have also been associated with a

spectral signature in the context of the LASER Interferometer Gravitational Wave
Observatory (LIGO) and Laser Interferometry.

2. Interaction:

The types of spectroscopy depends upon nature of the interaction between the energy
and the material. These interactions include:
 Absorption Spectroscopy: Absorption occurs when energy from the radiative
source is absorbed by the material. We observe lines/Bands in the spectrum.

 Emission Spectroscopy: Emission indicates that radiative energy is released by

the material. A material's Black body spectrum is a spontaneous emission
spectrum determined by its temperature. Emission can also be induced by other
sources of energy such as flames, sparks, electric arcs, etc.

 Elastic Scattering: e.g. Rayleigh scattering. It determine how incident radiation

is scattered by a material. Crystallography uses 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.

 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.

 Nuclear Spectroscopy are methods that use the properties of specific nuclei to
probe the local structure in matter.

3. Matter
Matter could be in form of:
 a. Atoms
Atomic spectroscopy was the first application of spectroscopy. This involve
visible and UV light. The atomic spectral lines arise due to electronic
transitions of outer shell electrons as they rise and fall from one electron orbit to
another. The transitions are guided by certain selection rules.

b. Molecules
The combination of atoms into molecules leads to the creation of unique types
of energy states (BANDS) and therefore unique Band spectra due to transitions
between these bands. Molecular spectra can be obtained due to electronic states
plus rotational states plus molecular vibrational states. Rotations are collective
motions of the atomic nuclei and typically lead to spectra in the microwave and
mm-wave spectral regions. 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.

c. Crystals and extended materials

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

d. 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 NMR spectroscopy.

Difference between Spectrograph and spectrometer

Spectrograph is an instrument used for recording spectra, producing
spectrograms while spectrometer is an optical instrument for measuring the
interaction of light by matter. Typically it will plot a graph of absorption versus
wavelength or frequency, and the patterns produced are called Spectra. The
spectra produced are used to identify the substances present, and their internal
structure.