Spectroscopy

A spectrum is a plot of electromagnetic energy as a function of frequency or wavelength. The recording and studying of spectrum of energy levels in atoms or molecules in the physical sciences is called spectroscopy. A device for recording a spectrum is a spectrometer or spectrophotometer. The latter term is used when an optical spectrum is recorded by the device.

Types of spectroscopy

• Auger electron spectroscopy - The analysis of the energies of the stimulated emission of Auger electrons
• electromagnetic spectroscopy - The study electomagnetic radiation spectra given off or absorbed by atoms or molecules changing energy levels.
• infra-red spectroscopy - The study of spectra showing infra-red radiation absorbed by atoms or molecules making them vibrate.
• mass spectrometry - The study of the mass of molecules or atoms, measured by how much they bend as they are exposed to a magnetic field
• Mossbauer Spectroscopy - Measures the absorption of gamma-rays by atoms bound in a solid as a function of gamma-ray energy.
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance - Measures the resonant absorption of RF radiation by nuclei in a strong magnetic field. Absorption peaks correspond to transitions in the nuclear spin states of the nuclei.
• Raman spectroscopy The study of spectra caused by the scattering and change in frequency of light due to the transition between vibrational/rotational energy levels in molecules.
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• Rotational spectroscopy
• Vibrational Spectroscopy
• Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy

Other Topics

• Fourier Transform Spectroscopy - An efficient method for collecting various spectra. Frequently applied to infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

See also: spectroscopic analysis

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