Two-dimensional spatially resolved Raman spectroscopy of solid materials

Chemical compositional analysis of solid materials often is based upon vibrational spectroscopy, either infrared or Raman. Vibrational analysis is particularly valuable. The development of mutichannel detection systems for Raman spectroscopy coupled with microscopic techniques has resulted in a number of commercial Raman microprobes (from Spex Industries, Jobin-Yvon ISA, Dilor, for example) capable of probing areas on the order of 100 ..mu..m/sup 2/ routinely. For macroscopic samples, with dimensions of thousands of microns on a side, an instrument which mutiplexes both the spatial domain and wavelength would enhance the capability of Raman spectroscopy. We report on the development of such a Raman instrument and describe, as an example, its application to the investigation of the phase transformation accompanying crack growth in partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ). 5 figs., 4 refs.