An apparatus and related methods for facilitating surface-enhanced Raman
spectroscopy (SERS) is described. The apparatus comprises a SERS-active
structure near which a plurality of analyte molecules are disposed and an
actuation device in actuable communication with the SERS-active structure
to deform the SERS-active structure while the analyte molecules are
disposed therenear. The deformation of the SERS-active structure varies
an intensity of radiation Raman-scattered from the analyte molecules.