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# Optical Comb; Chemical Analysis

The new JILA technique uses infrared laser light in many different colors, or frequencies, to identify trace levels of different molecules at the same time. For example, water molecules (blue) and ammonia molecules (green) absorb light at very specific characteristic frequencies. The pattern of frequencies absorbed forms a "signature" for identifying the molecules and their concentrations.

*PHY, JILA, Boulder, spectroscopy

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March 22, 2006

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