Development of methods and techniques for attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy

The results of research in molecular spectroscopy and the development of optophysical equipment with the participation of scientists from the department of optics and spectroscopy of the St. Petersburg State Institute of Precision Mechanics and Optics (Technical University) are considered. Emphasis is placed on a systematic presentation of the theoretical, methodical, and metrological principles pertaining to investigations of the optical constants of materials using attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectroscopy. It is shown that the problem of the optical contact between an ATR prism and a solid object can be solved successfully by employing a thermoplastic optical glass. Such glasses are made from chalcogenide elements, have a high refractive index n = 2.4, and are transparent in the range 1-18 mu m. (C) 2000 The Optical Society of America. [S1070-9762(00)00304-3].