Raman spectrometer having Hadamard electrooptical mask and diode detector

In a method of detecting Raman spectra including the steps of directing a beam of monochromatic light into a sample to be analyzed, and collecting electromagnetic radiation emanating from the sample as a result of the beam, the radiation including Raman and Rayleigh scattered radiation, the improvement which comprises the steps of:

• dispersing the radiation emanating from the sample as dispersed radiation along a path, said dispersed radiation including Raman and Rayleigh scattered radiation;
• providing and positioning a stationary electro-optical masking device for impingement of at least a portion of said dispersed radiation thereof wherein said masking device includes;
• a body presenting a pair of opposed faces,
• zone-defining means carried by said body for dividing at least one of said faces into a plurality of discrete, electrically alterable zones, and
• zone-altering means operably coupled with said zone-defining means for selective alteration of each zone respectively between a relatively transmissive condition relative to said dispersed radiation and a relatively opaque condition relative to said dispersed radiation;
• preventing passage of Rayleigh scattered radiation present in said dispersed radiation through relatively transmissive ones of said zones during analysis of the sample and allowing passage of at least a portion of said Raman scattered radiation present in said dispersed radiation through relatively transmissive ones of said zones during analysis of the sample;
• dedispersing radiation passing through relatively transmissive ones of said zones by use of a dedispersing device;
• and
• detecting the dedispersed radiation from said dedispersing device in order to detect Raman spectra thereof.