The Fundamentals Of Infrared Spectroscopy

By Joe Van Gompel, PhD

Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter. The electromagnetic radiation may be anywhere from very high energy gamma rays to low-frequency radio waves. The nature of the interaction depends upon the frequency or energy of the electromagnetic radiation and also on the properties of the matter. The interactions may be ionizing (gamma- and x-rays), chemical-electronic (UV-visible), vibrational / rotational (infrared), or magnetic (microwave or lower). There are many aspects to spectroscopy and it is not in the scope of this note to consider all of these.