Optical spectroscopy and imaging

Optical spectroscopy allows the chemical composition of various samples to be determined in all states of matter. In solid and liquid states, optical techniques can also be used to image the spatial distribution of molecules in three dimensions. In addition to analytical applications, optical spectroscopy is also widely used in basic scientific research to determine the structure and energy levels of matter and to monitor various dynamic changes, such as chemical reactions.

Optical methods have advanced dramatically in recent years, allowing the detection of molecules at even lower concentrations and determination of even smaller details in material samples. Many of the recent advances have been driven by the tremendous development of laser technology. In many applications, the properties of laser light (brightness, directivity and monochromaticity) allow superior performance compared to traditional thermal light sources such as incandescent or discharge lamps. An excellent example of the rapidly evolving laser technology are optical frequency combs, which can produce laser light over a wide wavelength range. High-speed laser pulses also allow extremely fast phenomena to be studied in a variety of chemical samples, down to the femtosecond (10^-15 s, a millionth of a billionth of a second) time scale.

The Chemistry Days seminar on optical spectroscopy and imaging will present some of these new methods and give an overview of how they are contributing to research in chemistry and in fields that use chemical methods, such as nanotechnology, biology and medicine. In addition to basic research, the seminar will also address the use of the latest optical methods in commercially important applications and in governmental activities. Optical spectroscopy underpins many applications of industrial and societal importance, although we are usually unaware of this in our everyday lives.

Lasers are often used as light sources in optical spectroscopy. Photo: Mikhail Roiz