Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy in Forensic Science

For many years the practices of infrared and Raman spectroscopy were confined largely to dedicated academic, industrial or national research laboratories. Major technical advances over the last 10-20 years have resulted in smaller, easier to use instrumentation that is much more user-friendly. Demands and needs from users for increased portability of scientific instrumentation have produced spectrometers and interferometers of small dimensions and of sufficient quality such that handheld Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) instruments have been realized over the last few years, opening up much wider application of Raman and infrared spectroscopy to forensic science applications, particularly for adoption into field usage. This unique reference book provides * An introduction to the principles of forensic science and how Raman and infrared spectroscopy can be applied * Relevant application examples, highlighting how infrared, Raman and THz spectroscopy can be applied to these fields * Coverage of key areas of instrumentation, sampling, crime scenes, drugs of abuse and homeland security with case study chapters * Extensively referenced chapters making further reading and investigation simpler for the reader This book is intended to introduce both a novice or an established spectroscopic practitioner of analytical chemistry to the technical elements of Raman and infrared spectroscopy as applied to forensic science, outlining several proven and potential applications within this field.