Laser spectroscopy

(spectroscopy) A branch of spectroscopy in which a laser is used as an intense, monochromatic light source; in particular, it includes saturation spectroscopy, as well as the application of laser sources to Raman spectroscopy and other techniques.

Spectroscopy with laser light or, more generally, studies of the interaction between laser radiation and matter. Lasers have led to a rejuvenescence of classical spectroscopy, because laser light can far surpass the light from other sources in brightness, spectral purity, and directionality, and if required, laser light can be produced in extremely intense and short pulses. The use of lasers can greatly increase the resolution and sensitivity of conventional spectroscopic techniques, such as absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, or Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, interesting new phenomena have become observable in the resonant interaction of intense coherent laser light with matter. Laser spectroscopy has become a wide and diverse field, with applications in numerous areas of physics, chemistry, and biology. See also Spectroscopy.