Remote Raman Spectroscopic Detection of Minerals and Organics under Illuminated Conditions from a Distance of 10 m Using a Single 532 nm Laser Pulse

Raman spectra of several minerals and organics were obtained from a small portable instrument at a distance of 10 m in a well-illuminated laboratory with a single 532 nm laser pulse with energy of 35 mJ/pulse. Remote Raman spectra of common minerals (dolomite, calcite, marble, barite, gypsum, quartz, anatase, fluorapatite, etc.) obtained in a short period of time (1.1 μs) clearly show Raman features that can be used as fingerprints for mineral identification. Raman features of organics (benzene, cyclohexane, 2-propanol, naphthalene, etc.) and other chemicals such as oxides, silicates, sulfates, nitrates, phosphates, and carbonates were also easily detected. The ability to identify minerals from their Raman spectra obtained from a single laser pulse has promise for future space missions where power consumption is critical. Such a system could be reduced in size by minimizing the cooling requirements for the laser unit. The remote Raman system is also capable of performing time-resolved measurements. Data indicate that further improvement in the performance of the system is possible by reducing the gate width of the detector (ICCD) from 1.1 μs to approximately 20 ns, which would significantly reduce the background signal from daylight or a well-illuminated laboratory. The 1.1 μs signal gating was effective in removing nearly all background fluorescence with 532 nm excitation, indicating that the fluorescence in most minerals is probably from long-lifetime inorganic phosphorescence.