Spectrographic analysis

Also known as spectrometry, a spectrographic analysis is a process where chemical elements are determined by measuring the wavelengths or spectral line intensity of a sample of matter. The wavelength or spectral line can be obtained by a form of excitation such as infrared.

In 2154, Enterprise deduced that a debris cloud existed around an planet by creating a spectrograph. 

Spock ran a spectral analysis on the dead star Questar M-17, which revealed imploded matter. 

Orion vessels emitted a unique trail of radioactive waste that was visible on a spectral analysis. 

When Geordi La Forge tried to find out what caused the mysterious disappearance of his former crewmates of the USS Victory on Tarchannen III, he ran a spectrographic analysis, among other things. The analysis however was without results. 

A full spectrographic analysis, run by Data, revealed that the Crystalline Entity that destroyed Melona IV in 2368 was the same creature that also devastated Omicron Theta in 2338. 

The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) ran a spectrographic analysis on a Dyson sphere in 2369 to determine its structure and composition.