Discovery of the Raman Effect by Indian physicist Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, (Nobel Prize Winner)
While returning on his trip from London, the deep blue color of the Mediterranean sea fascinated sir C.V Raman a lot. He was not satisfied with Lord Rayleigh's explanation that the color of the sea was a reflection of the color of the sky.
He did his research on it and came up with the explanation that the blue color of the sky is a result of the scattering of sunlight by the molecules in the air. Later it came to be known as the "Raman Effect."
How did sir Raman research the effects of light scattering?
Sir Raman started his early experiments in Calcutta by visually observing color rather than precise measurements. The advantage of visual observation was that multiple substances could be studied altogether. In his first report, "A New Type of Secondary Radiation" he wrote down his observation after experimenting with almost 60 types of liquids.
he result for all the liquids was the same- the color of the scattered light was different from the incident light. In 1927, he acquired a seven-inch refracting telescope that could help study the effect better. In 1928, the mercury lamp was invented which further helped him in his research. To measure the exact wavelength of the incident light, he started using a pocket spectroscope. He ultimately started using a quartz spectrograph.
The utility of the Raman effect in physics
Sir Raman's discovery leads to the debate of quantum theory. Physicists started using his technique to study the vibration and rotation of molecules to research the molecular structure.
The utility of the Raman effect in chemistry
he "Raman spectroscopy" effect could not only be applied to liquids but also solids and gas. So chemists started applying this effect to study the nature of aqueous solutions. It gave them plenty of information about what is present in which sample. This method was also used for nondestructive chemical analysis for both organic and inorganic compounds.
Practical applications of this effect
1.For monitoring the manufacturing processes in the petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries, the Raman spectroscopy method is used.
2.Photo Chemists and Photo Biologists can record the spectra of chemical species using this technique.
3.Doctors use this technique to gather specific biochemical information that leads to cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
C.V Raman is one of the biggest heroes in the world of the Indian scientific and cultural landscape.
