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Abstract
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering is recognized as a powerful tool both in chemical sensing and for studying surface dynamics. The SERS process is only partly understood, but currently accepted to be mainly an electromagnetic mechanism where Raman scattering is enhanced because of surface plasmon resonance at the excitation wavelength. Recent advances in nanofabrication and particle manipulation have been generating more insight into the fundamentals of this technique. Theoretical calculations and experiments suggest that the most intense electromagnetic fields are confined in the junctions of touching nanoparticles. Research on the single-molecule capability of SERS is intensive, providing more support for the chemical effect at work in the process. Currently, based on statistical analyses and experimentation, the typical "blinking" and spectral fluctuations common in "single-molecule" systems are attributed to signals from a few molecules. Research provides, however, more compelling evidence that SERS can soon strongly complement fluorescence spectroscopy as a single molecule technique.