DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTICAL-MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION FACILITY

Several optical techniques, including Raman scattering, have been used effectively to elucidate many fundamental properties of matter. The information obtained from laboratory-based experiments has provided valuable information on the basic physical processes present in materials. Recent developments in the instrumentation used to acquire and analyze optical data have increased the versatility of these laser-based probes to the point that many techniques can now be transferred into industrial processing environments. The noncontact nature of these diagnostic tools can permit industries to produce and process materials to the ever-increasing standards required, for example, for advanced optoelectronic devices. We describe a state-of-the-art, laboratory-based optical characterization facility using Raman scattering that we have developed, and we discuss several experimental studies that can assist industry to monitor production quality.