Final answer:
Microspectrophotometry is a non-destructive forensic test used to study the optical properties of fibers using specific wavelengths of light. It involves microscopes with monochromators and spectral analyzers that provide unique scattered light patterns for chemical analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The non-destructive forensic test that allows scientists to examine the optical properties of a fiber using specific wavelengths of light is known as microspectrophotometry. This technique employs microscopes combined with instruments such as monochromators and spectral analyzers to detect a narrow band of light. By scattering monochromatic light from a laser through the specimen, the light that is scattered can shift in wavelength, which corresponds with the excitation of specific energy levels within the sample. This shift provides a unique scattered light pattern, much like a molecular fingerprint, which can reveal detailed information about the sample's chemical composition.
Such microspectrophotometric evaluations can be utilized in fields ranging from materials science to nanotechnology, and even in biomedical research, allowing for non-intrusive diagnostics critical for applications such as assessing the extent of stomach and bowel cancers without surface incisions.