Conditions for a Unique Solution in Factor Analysis of Overlapped Raman Spectra of Two Components

Abstract

Conditions for uniquely separating the true spectra of individual components from the overlapped Raman spectra were examined by factor analysis. Whether the unique separation is possible or not depends upon the information contained in the data-set of the sample spectra. Unique solutions were obtained for two component Raman spectra under the following conditions. Case 1), two components each have a pure wavenumber and their pure samples exist; case 2), two components each have pure wavenumber; case 3), two pure samples exist; and case 4), one component has a pure wavenumber and its pure sample exists. Here, the pure wavenumber means the wavenumber at which only one component has a definite Raman intensity and the other components have zero intensities.