With Raman spectroscopy, scientists can measure with exactitude the densities and other traits of matter in any phase (gas, liquid or solid). Its potential uses have shown an increasing amount of potential in a growing number of fields. Understanding the TechnologyHigh-precision Raman measurement tools gather data about elements at the micron scope. Generally, a laser is focused upon the object that is being measured. The laser beam will scatter in a unique pattern in accordance with the material it lands on. Measuring the scatter enables technicians to identify the substance or substances being looked at, their degree of concentration, and other properties. The technique -- which is actually a series of closely related measurement approaches -- is named after the Raman effect, wherein electromagnetic waves collide with a molecule and interact with its bonds. In this case, a predictable wave of light is employed, making it easier to interpret the outcome. ApplicationsThe most common application of TouchRaman spectroscopy is in the field of chemistry because it gets its information from interacting with chemical bonds. However, its applicability is wide-ranging. Pharmaceutical researchers use custom devices like TouchRaman probes to measure active components in drugs, and the form those ingredients take at the molecular level. TouchRaman instruments like these can also be valuable in physics experiments to determine the molecular structure of materials, as well as measure their temperature. Some TouchRaman probes are even capable of gathering information about caustic materials that would normally destroy the measuring device. Spatially Offset Raman SpectroscopyAnother kind of Raman spectroscopy, called "spatially offset Raman spectroscopy," is less sensitive to surface layers and can be used to, for example, positively identify counterfeit drugs without disturbing their containers. They can also be used to monitor biological tissue, in some ways similar to an ultrasound. Experiments are in progress to determine whether different TouchRaman and similar devices can be used to identify the presence of explosive materials at a distance, and even to check whether individual cells in the body are cancerous, which could make surgery considerably less dangerous and more precise, boosting favorable prognoses considerably. MicrospectroscopyRaman spectroscopy can be used to examine polymers, cells, and forensics evidence on a microscopic level. Scientists can even use it to analyze the level of cholesterol or other substances in foods. CustomizationWhile manufacturers such as optical oxygen sensor sometimes sell premade TouchRaman and similar instruments to government, academic and pharmaceutical organizations, those manufacturers can also customize and construct machinery perfectly attuned to the measurement and observation needs of the purchaser.