An Infrared Fiber-Optic Raman Sensor for Field Detecting of Organic Biomarkers

The search for organics on Mars remains a key objective for future missions. However current instruments for detailed organic analysis require complex sample handling and can process only a limited number of samples. To allow for rapid sample characterization, the in situ non-destructive Raman detection technique is a highly desirable sensing tool for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. However, current Raman systems deployed in the field are inadequate due to deleterious fluorescence interference. Fluorescence is often several orders of magnitude more intense than Raman scattering signals and its broad structures spectrum could be difficult to remove from Raman spectra. We propose to develop a rover-mounted infrared fiber-optic Raman sensor that can eliminate fluorescence with significantly improved Raman sensitivity for fast field detections. The infrared fiber-optic Raman sensor is based on recent technology advances in fiber lasers, fiber optic Raman probes and infrared detector arrays. Innovative infrared fiber-optic Raman sensor enables highly sensitive fluorescence-free Raman analysis and offers flexible remote detection, so that the field spectral sensor's overall performance would be intact and extremely flexible for planetary missions. We will deliver a rover-mounted infrared fiber-optic Raman sensor to NASA at the end of Phase II program.

Raman spectroscopy provides information about molecular vibrations that can be used for material identification and quantization. The proposed infrared fiber-optic Raman sensor has wide applications to include environmental monitoring, homeland security, life science, matter physics, chemistry and bio-fuel production. It offers a non-destructive, non-contact method of qualitative and quantitative analysis suitable for both laboratories based and plant based applications. Currently, Raman spectrometer serves as an important instrument for Homeland Defense. It can be used for the bulk identification of explosives, chemical warfare agents, and other hazardous chemicals.

The proposed rover-mounted infrared fiber-optic Raman sensor will provide NASA a light weight, low-power consumption, versatile, compact, rugged sensing instrument for rapid in-situ field detection of geological materials. It is a new field detection instrument capable of analyzing solid, liquid, and gaseous samples without firmware changes. The instrument proposed here is relevant to the NASA solicitation topic, "Instrument technologies for detecting inorganic and organic biomarkers on future Mars missions." It will directly support NASA for improving existing NASA flight instrument.

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