We demonstrate the generation of 211-nm radiation using sum frequency
mixing of the second and third harmonics of a cw mode-locjed Nd:YLF la
ser operating at 76 MHz as an excitation source for resonance Raman sp
ectroscopy. Owing to the relatively low peak power (approximately 4 W)
but high average power (approximately 8 mW), we obtain good-quality s
pectra with relatively short collection times. In order to demonstrate
the utility of this source, we have obtained the Raman spectra of sev
eral biological molecules and an inorganic molecule, ruthenium trisbip
yridine, using 211-nm excitation.