Benefits of NIR spectroscopy: Part 2
24.02.2020
Artikel
Infrared spectroscopy and near infrared spectroscopy—is there a difference?
This is the second installment in our series about NIR spectroscopy. In this article, you will learn the background of NIR spectroscopy on a higher level and determine why this technique might be more suitable than infrared spectroscopy for your analytical challenges in the laboratory and in industrial manufacturing processes.
Spectroscopy… what is that?
A short yet accurate definition of spectroscopy is «the interaction of light with matter». We all know that light certainly influences matter, especially after spending a long day outside, unprotected. We experience a sunburn as a result if we are exposed to the sun for too long.
A characteristic of light is its wavelength, which is inversely correlated to its energy. Therefore, the smaller the wavelength, the more energy there is. The electromagnetic spectrum is shown in Figure 1. Here you can see that the NIR region is nestled in between the visible region (at higher energy) and the infrared region (at lower energy).