Abstract:
This chapter provides a decade’s worth of application and improvement to the field of forensic science through three prominent laser spectroscopies. The chapter begins with a brief discussion of the basic theory of each of the three techniques: laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIF), Raman spectroscopy, and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Once the basic theory has been introduced, the remainder of the chapter focuses on review of the current research, and applications of these techniques for the analysis of various types of forensic evidence. The forensic topics that are the focus of this chapter are explosives, glass, paint, inks, bodily fluids, and fibers.