Abstract

Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate polymerization reactions in a single micrometer-sized monomer droplet. An Ar⁺ laser levitated the microparticles and simultaneously excited the Raman scattering. The polymerization reaction was initiated by exposing the monomer droplets to the UV radiation of a mercury are excitation lamp. The Raman spectrum of the reacting particle was investigated on-line. The results demonstrate that the combination of the technique of optical levitation and Raman spectroscopy allows nondestructive <i>in situ</i> measurements of single particles and is therefore very useful for the study of fundamental processes.

Investigation of a phase transition in a single optically levitated microdroplet by Raman–Mie scattering

M. Trunk, J. F. Lübben, J. Popp, B. Schrader, and W. Kiefer
Appl. Opt. 36(15) 3305-3309 (1997)

Time-resolved Raman spectroscopy from reacting optically levitated microdroplets

J. C. Carls, G. Moncivais, and J. R. Brock
Appl. Opt. 29(19) 2913-2918 (1990)

Investigation of coated droplets in an optical trap: Raman-scattering, elastic-light-scattering, and evaporation characteristics

T. Kaiser, G. Roll, and G. Schweiger
Appl. Opt. 35(30) 5918-5924 (1996)

Radiation pressure effect on light scattering from optically levitated microparticles

G. Schweiger
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 8(1) 174-176 (1991)

Enhancement of the Raman spectrum of optically levitated microspheres by seeded nanoparticles

T. Kaiser, G. Roll, and G. Schweiger
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 12(2) 281-286 (1995)