Conducted by Fran Adar, Ph.D.

The last 15 years has seen a resurgence of interest in the application of Raman spectroscopy as an analytical tool.  This is a result of the simplification and improved robustness of the instrumentation.  Consequently it has become much easier to record spectra on a large variety of materials so the number and scope of applications has exploded.  The use of the microscope has been pivotal in many of these developments by providing the ability to characterize and map heterogeneous samples.

In this audio seminar CD, some of the more active Raman applications areas will be discussed.  The information available from the spectra in each case will be described, after which a particular example will be worked up.  In all cases the goal is to motivate the Raman measurements by identifying a question that can be answered best by Raman microscopy.

This audio seminar CD is presented by Dr. Fran Adar, a worldwide expert on Raman Microscopy.

A detailed outline and Dr. Adar's qualifications follow below.

Raman Microscopy:
Are You Aware How Easy And Useful It Has Become?

Part I
Raman Microscopy as an Analytical Tool

• What is Raman spectroscopy?
• How is it different from IR spectroscopy?
• How does it complement other analytical techniques?

Part II
Confocal Raman Microscopy

• How does it work?
• What determines the spatial resolution? - laterally and axially
• Data treatment - How can the best images be extracted from the hyperspectral cube?
• What laser wavelength(s) would you choose?  How would you optimize the instrument for this/these wavelengths?

Part III
Examples

• Contaminant analysis
• Ceramics - phase identification
• Polymers - orientation in fibers
• Pathology - identification of foreign materials
• Pharmaceuticals - drug delivery
• Semiconducters - strain in films engineered to optimize electronic mobility

Fran Adar

Fran Adar has achieved BA (1966), MS (1968) and Ph.D. (1972) degrees in physics from the University of Pennsylvania.  She served as postdoctoral fellow and research assistant professor in the Johnson Foundation/Biophysics Department, also at the University of Pennsylvania.  With Jobin Yvon (now Horiba) since 1978, she functions as the Worldwide Raman Applications Manager.   Many of the Raman microscope applications such as measurement of strain in silicon and orientation in polymeric fibers were first developed in the JY applications lab under her direction.

In recognition of her skills, she has received the following awards:

• Irene Dion Payne Award - Metropolitan Section of the Microbeam Analysis Society, 1982
• Charles Mann Award for Applied Raman Spectroscopy, Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies, 2002
• Waters Symposium - History and Evolution of Raman Instrumentation, Pittcon, 2003
• Williams-Wright Award for “significant contributions to vibrational spectroscopy while working in industry”. Pittcon 2005

Current activities include participation on the ASTM committees on Raman Instrumentation and Raman Imaging.