9523183 Koev This research is to develop a Raman spectrometer based on small-diameter, long-path length, totally-internally reflecting sample cells. The cells will be hollow fibers drawn from a transparent amorphous fluoropolymer with a refractive index less than water. These fibers will act as optical fibers when filled with any transparent liquid. This will confine the excitation and Raman-scattered radiation within the sample, increasing the Raman intensity by as much as 3 to 4 orders of magnitude. Raman spectrometers are used extensively in analytical chemistry primarily to provide information on molecular vibrations. The results of this research will make the Raman spectrometers even more useful to industry by increasing the intensity of conventional spectrometers and extending their use to essentially all transparent liquids.
