Patent ID: 6040906
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method of resonance Raman spectroscopy for identifying and quanitating proton-bearing analytes including bacteria, viruses, prions, biomolecules, biomolecular assemblies, inorganic and organic compounds comprising:deuterating with dideuterium oxide (D20) a sample containing one or more analytes, each analyte having exchangeable protons such that said deuteration will cause the protons of said analyte to be exchanged with deuterons;providing a monochromatic light at an excitation frequency onto a sample for producing Raman sample light and rejecting Rayleigh light;passing said Raman sample light through a depolarizer for producing randomized polarization components of said Raman sample light;generating a Raman sample spectrum calibrated with respect to an absolute differential Raman cross-section standard in response to said randomized polarization components;providing said Raman sample spectrum to a spectral analyzer;provides the identity of analytes in the sample.