A good portable Raman spectrometer bridges the gap in performance, capability and size between handheld and benchtop Raman spectroscopy. It enables new point-of-use applications in medicine and industry by providing high sensitivity and dependable answers in a compact, cost-effective footprint. These qualities are important to both researchers and OEM instrument developers, particularly for applied research and commercialisation of new technologies. Medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and quality and process control in the food chain, energy industry, and manufacturing are all beginning to harness the power of portable Raman spectrometers to provide sensitive and specific answers to difficult questions. Raman is also being used as a complementary diagnostic within other systems, from high-end research tools to machine inspection and surgical instruments.
