Spectroscopic analysis methods

A spectroscopic method for determining the components present in a sample, comprising:

• illuminating the sample;
• obtaining spectral data from a plurality of points on the sample;
• making an initial estimate of spectral values of a first component of the sample;
• from the estimate of the first component, performing an iterative resolution of the spectrum of the first component;
• and
• making an initial estimate of spectral values of at least one further component of the sample, and performing an iterative resolution of the spectrum of each such component from the respective initial estimate and from one or more of the previously resolved spectra;
• wherein equal values are used for all spectral values of a respective initial estimate.

Apparatus for determining the components present in a sample, comprising a computer programmed to:

• take spectral data obtained from a plurality of points on the sample;
• make an initial estimate of spectral values of a first component of the sample;
• from the estimate of the first component, perform an iterative resolution of the spectrum of the first component;
• make an initial estimate of spectral values of at least one further component of the sample;
• and
• perform an iterative resolution of the spectrum of each such component from the respective initial estimate and from one or more of the previously resolved spectra;
• wherein equal values are used for all spectral values of a respective initial estimate.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer-executable program for determining the components present in a sample, the program comprising:

• instructions for accessing spectral data obtained from a plurality of points on the sample;
• instructions for making an initial estimate of spectral values of a first component of the sample;
• instructions for performing, from the estimate of the first component, an iterative resolution of the spectrum of the first component;
• instructions for making an initial estimate of spectral values of at least one further component of the sample;
• and
• instructions for performing an iterative resolution of the spectrum of each such component from the respective initial estimate and from one or more of the previously resolved spectra;
• wherein equal values are used for all spectral values of a respective initial estimate.