Convolution of spectra in optical microprobe experiments

When optical microprobe spectroscopies, based on Raman or luminescence, are used to study materials properties (such as composition or strain) that va ry within the volume of material excited by the microprobe, it is necessary to convolute the material property variation with the response function of the microprobe to obtain the observable spectrum. A method for this convol ution, in the general case in which the material shows significant absorpti on of the incident light, is suggested and is shown to give acceptable inte rpretation of test experiments on alumina and silicon single crystals.