An optical probe
assembly for conveying
Raman pump light to a specimen and for conveying a Raman signature from the specimen to an
optical spectrum analyzer, the optical probe
assembly comprising a
light guide, wherein the
light guide comprises a core region and a surrounding cladding region, wherein the core region is constructed so as to minimize the creation of a relatively
broadband spurious
background noise signal when conveying the
Raman pump light to the specimen, and the cladding region is constructed so as to satisfy the wave guiding reflection requirements of the
Raman pump light and the Raman signature. A
Raman spectroscopy system comprising: a
laser for producing Raman pump light; an optical probe
assembly for conveying the Raman pump light to a specimen and for conveying a Raman signature from the specimen to an
optical spectrum analyzer, the optical probe assembly comprising a
light guide, wherein the light guide comprises a core region and a surrounding cladding region, wherein the core region is constructed so as to minimize the creation of a relatively
broadband spurious
background noise signal when conveying the Raman pump light to the specimen, and the cladding region is constructed so as to satisfy wave guiding reflection requirements of the Raman pump light and the Raman signature; and an
optical spectrum analyzer for receiving the Raman signature of a specimen and identifying and characterizing the specimen based upon the spectrum of the Raman signature. A method for conducting
Raman spectroscopy comprising: producing Raman pump light; conveying the Raman pump light through an optical probe assembly to a specimen and conveying a Raman signature from the specimen through the optical probe assembly to an optical
spectrum analyzer, the optical probe assembly comprising a light guide, wherein the light guide comprises a core region and a surrounding cladding region, wherein the core region is constructed so as to minimize the creation of a relatively
broadband spurious
background noise signal when conveying the Raman pump light to the specimen, and the cladding region is constructed so as to satisfy wave guiding reflection requirements of the Raman pump light and the Raman signature; and identifying and characterizing the specimen based upon the spectrum of the Raman signature.