Spectroscopy or ghost science

It begun from Sun spectrum, and today we can say what was eaten and drunk on the funeral feast of King Midas

The word "spectrum" seems to be Greek (like all unknown words) but it is not.
It has been used by Cicerone, in latin, and used again by Newton.

Italian - Latin dictionary gives several meanings, including spettro (= ghost), simulacro (= figure, sculpture).

Spectroscopy deal with images: a colorful rainbow, out of a white light

In other words: spectrum is a ghost and Spectroscopy - a science on ghosts




Images of matter can be obtained in many ways:

1. if we study light (intensity of different colors), is called optical spectroscopy
2. if distribution of masses is measured and plotted, we call it mass spectroscopy
3. if distribution of masses is obtained by fragmentation of molecule with some projectile (like a proton), it is called more specifically "proton charge transfer mass spectroscopy"
4. if light is absorbed and molecules start to vibrate (creating a sound) it is called photoacoustic spectroscopy and so on....



© GK