Laser spectrometry for analysis and characterization

Laser sources are now an everyday reality for the general public, and are playing an increasingly important role in problems involving the analysis of matter, whether or not they relate to the major scientific questions of our time. The determining parameters of lasers are wavelength, coherence or directivity, pulse duration, intensity and power. The concept of using a laser includes the notions of probing a medium from a distance, or probing it ultra-fast, or with high spatial resolution. In addition to the laser source, there are a number of other components that are indispensable for analysis systems, such as optics and detectors. It's also important to realize the growing role played by IT in managing measurements and interpreting results in ever-shorter timeframes. The concepts behind this type of instrumentation are constantly progressing, thanks to increasingly sophisticated and high-performance technology, and enable us to better grasp the various analytical problems of modern science. They contribute to the development of a better, faster and broader vision of the world, thanks to scientific progress. We will list and introduce the various techniques currently in use, and attempt to illustrate their important applications. We encourage the reader to supplement his or her information with a broader bibliographical search, with the help of the one in this dossier which has been designed to set out the main keywords in the field.