Raman spectroscopy
Description
An analytical technique used to identify some materials by their light-induced vibrational modes. Raman spectroscopy was discovered in 1928 by an Indian physicist, Sir C.V. Raman, whose work in the field of light scattering earned him the 1930 Nobel Prize for Physics. It measures the shift in wavelength that occurs when a material scatters monochromatic light. Raman spectroscopy provides information of the internal vibrational motion of a molecule and also can provide information on their chemical bonding (i.e., crystalline structure).
In the 1980s, the development of stable, inexpensive lasers and as well as a wider array of detectors made the technique more sensitive and increased its availability and applications.
In the cultural heritage area, Raman spectroscopy is used to study and characterize materials: amber, dyes, glass, glazed ceramics, ivory, pigments, polymers. The IRUG (Infrared and Raman Users Group) Spectral Database is a rigorously peer-reviewed online database of IR and Raman reference spectra for cultural heritage materials such as works of art, architecture, and archaeological artifacts. The database is open for the general public to peruse and includes interactive spectra for over a hundred different types of pigments and paints.
- For more information on the use of FTIR in Conservation, see: Raman Spectroscopy
Synonyms and Related Terms
spectroscopie Raman (Fr.); Ramanspektroskopie (Deut.)
Resources and Citations
- The Infrared and Raman Users Group (IRUG): IRUG
- Synthetic Organic Pigment Research Aggregation Group (SOPRANO): Soprano
- Cultural Heritage Science Open Source (CHSOS): CHSOS
- Casadio F, Daher C, Bellot-Gurlet L. Raman Spectroscopy of Cultural Heritage Materials: Overview of Applications and New Frontiers in Instrumentation, Sampling Modalities, and Data Processing. Top Curr Chem 2016;374:1–51.
- Wikipedia: Raman Spectroscopy Accessed Jan 2026
- H.G.M. Edwards & J.M. Chalmers, Raman Spectroscopy in archaeology and art history, Springer (2006)
- RAA 2013 - 5th International congress on the application of Raman spectroscopy in Art & Archaeology - LJUBLJANA (2013) : http://raa13.zvkds.si
- C2RMF: http://www.c2rmf.fr/pages/page_id18370_u1l2.htm