What is Optical Spectroscopy?
Spectroscopy includes all the analytical processes which are based on the interaction of electromagnetic waves and matter. When energy is transmitted, there occurs an interaction between electromagnetic radiation (e.g. photons) and matter. This can be observed, for example, when an atom becomes excited. A photons energy is directly proportional to its frequency. The following holds: Δ E = h ⋅ ν In this case, h is Plancks Constant, ν is the wavelength frequency of the photon and Δ E the energy differential. This equation is known as the fundamental equation of spectroscopy. It means that the amount of energy of a photon with a defined wavelength is known. This amount is known as a discrete energy state. The electrons in atoms also adopt discrete energy states. If a photon collides with an electron at rest, it only releases its energy if it pushes the electron into a permitted energy state. The photon must release all of its energy. After it releases its energy, it no longerexists. After
