 Raman spectrum

A Raman spectrum records the strength of Raman scattering as a function of scattered optical frequency or, usually, Raman shift relative to the excitation. For vacuum wavelengths in nanometres, a common wavenumber convention isHere the numerical wavelengths are in nanometres. Stokes Raman scattering has positive shift under this convention; Anti-Stokes Raman scattering has negative shift. The strong unshifted Rayleigh scattering line is not a vibrational Raman band.

For an original chosen excitation ${\lambda }_0=500\mathrm{nm}$ and a $1500\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{-1}$ vibration, the Stokes wavenumber is $20000-1500=18500\mathrm{c}{\mathrm{m}}^{-1}$, giving ${\lambda }_s\approx 540.54\mathrm{nm}$. The corresponding anti-Stokes wavelength is $10^7/21500\approx 465.12\mathrm{nm}$. Changing the excitation changes these optical wavelengths while the same assumed transition retains its Raman shift. The One-mode Raman spectrum example gives an existing level diagram and a separate numerical spectrum.

The vertical quantity must be stated too: detector counts per spectral bin, calibrated scattered power density and a stimulated gain ratio are different observables. Femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy can plot the Raman pump-on pump-off gain ratio rather than spontaneous photon counts. Its primary apparatus disperses probe and reference beams onto an array and calibrates shifts with known solvent lines.^[ref]

Spectral-density conversion between wavelength and Raman shift also changes the density's units: rebadging the horizontal axis alone need not preserve a spectral integral. Background, excitation rejection, instrument response and spectral resolution affect observed band heights and widths. An integrated band area is not determined by peak height alone. A chemical inference should compare calibrated positions and responses under specified conditions, rather than identify a material from one unqualified peak.