Chemistry Lasers Identify Pigments in Medieval Manuscripts

How Raman Spectroscopy Helps Tell A Bigger Story

In partnership with Rauner Special Collections Library - and with the help and expertise of Instrument Core Facility Manager Paul Defino and Instrument Specialist Chris Snyder of the Chemistry Department - senior lecturer Jenny Lynn is embarking on an exciting scholarly investigation. Jenny arranged for Paul and Chris to co-conduct multiple experiments to identify pigments (and so their compounds) in several of Rauner Library's pre-1600 manuscript fragments using Raman spectroscopy. This technique uses a source of monochromatic light, usually a laser, to determine a sample's molecular makeup.

Link to full Dartmouth Libraries article here.