Raman Scattering

[Dick Alchemist]

This isn't homework help, but rather just help understanding something.

 

Hi, I'm a freshman chemistry major. I recently found out that my lab TA is doing experiments with a thing called "Raman Scattering". Of course, we in the class have learned a smidge of Raman scattering. We had to describe it using a Joblonsky diagram and such. I got those questions wrong though since I had no clue what a Joblonsky diagram was (now I know).

 

I've tried doing a bit of research into figuring out what Raman scattering is. Of course it has to do with light and absorbance, specifically how light defracts to give color. I know that it involves a "virtual state". Thats pretty much it.

 

My questions are:

1. What exactly is Raman scattering? Is it as I said, a phenomena to describe how light defracts to give color?

2. What does it mean by virtual state?

3. How can you "experiment" with Raman scattering. Another way to rephrase the question; what is my lab TA doing?

 

Thank you.

[swansont]

It has nothing to do with diffraction. It's a process by which an atom or molecule transitions to a different state by scattering a photon. In the QM view this is by absorption and re-emission from a virtual state, with the system ending up at a different energy level from which it started.