ad_1]
Standoff Extremely-Compact Micro-Raman Sensor
Straightforward to make use of Raman sensor for quite a few functions
Conventional micro-Raman methods are able to performing fine-scale mineralogy; however these are used for in situ evaluation. A lot of the micro- Raman methods are designed and applied for darkish room operation. Such Raman methods: (1) require pattern assortment and (2) require shielding of daylight background radiation. With the usage of steady wave (CW) lasers and a non-time gating detection strategy, it is usually tough to differentiate the biofluorescence from the mineral luminescence. These limitations will considerably decrease the aptitude of those micro- Raman methods by way of the number of samples that may be analyzed.
BENEFITS
- Standoff ultra-compact Raman measurements at a number of centimeters vary (no pattern assortment)
- Daytime or nighttime operation Detection of all minerals: mild and darkish
- Detection of water, organic, and natural compounds
- Detection of Raman sign in presence of fluorescence
THE TECHNOLOGY
Researchers at NASA Langley Analysis Heart have developed a Standoff Extremely-Compact micro-Raman sensor that can present a superior instrument for a lot of industrial functions in addition to future NASA missions. This sensor will be capable of gather Raman spectra and quickly generate mineralogical photos of targets within the daytime from a distance of a number of centimeters with out the necessity to gather the pattern. This sensor is able to inspection and identification of minerals, organics, and biogenic supplies inside a number of centimeters and with a excessive 10 micrometer decision.
This instrument will resolve a few of the limitations (requiring pattern assortment and shielding of daylight background radiation) of the standard micro- Raman methods to supply a superior instrument. The instrument will carry out Raman spectroscopy from a miniature system (handheld or mounted on a small rover head). The instrument will enable investigation of mineralogy, biology, fluorescent hint parts, organic supplies, polar ices, and gasoline hydrates. It’ll understand a really excessive decision goal (micrometer) demonstrated to inside 20 centimeters goal distance.
APPLICATIONS
The know-how has a number of potential functions:
- Valuable metals and jewellery evaluation
- Narcotics identification
- Explosive detection
- Inspection of incoming uncooked supplies, ultimate product QC, and different functions within the pharmaceutical trade
- Contaminant detection and identification on silicon wafers
- Geological analysis
PUBLICATIONS
Standoff ultra-compact micro-raman sensor
Dec 19, 2018 – UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
Standoff ultra-compact micro-Raman sensors configured to obtain Raman scattering from a substance are disclosed. A laser system could also be configured to transmit a laser at a primary wavelength. The laser could also be expanded to a predetermined dimension, centered via a lens, and made incident on an unknown substance. A filter could replicate the laser and Rayleigh scattering from the substance, however could allow Raman scattering and laser-induced fluorescence from the substance. A number of lenses and/or filters could obtain and move the Raman scattering and/or laser-induced fluorescence to a light-weight sensor. The acquired Raman scattering and/or laser-induced fluorescence could also be in comparison with recognized fingerprints of drugs to find out an id of the substance. The wavelength of the laser, the width of the laser, and different parameters could also be diverse primarily based on the gap between the standoff ultra-compact micro-Raman sensor and the substance.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION(S)
This patent utility claims the advantage of and precedence to 62/617,684, filed on Jan. 16, 2018, the contents of that are hereby included by reference of their entirety.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
The invention described herein was made within the efficiency of labor beneath a NASA contract and by an worker of america Authorities and is topic to the provisions of Public Legislation 96-517 (35 U.S.C. § 202) and could also be manufactured and utilized by or for the Authorities for governmental functions with out the cost of any royalties thereon or subsequently. In accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 202, the contractor elected to not retain title.
OVERVIEW
Figuring out the id of a substance, reminiscent of a mineral, may be tough, notably when the substance can’t be readily retrieved and analyzed. For instance, throughout area explorations, a crew could want to establish a substance on a planetary floor, however the substance could also be too tough to retrieve and take a look at, not to mention deliver again to Earth for extra rigorous testing. Furthermore, some assessments which can be used to establish a substance (e.g., assessments requiring combustion) could also be tough to carry out outdoors of a laboratory and/or the setting of the Earth.
One solution to establish substances is Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy includes shining mild (e.g., from a laser) at a specific wavelength at a substance. Whereas the overwhelming majority of scattering from the substance on account of the sunshine does so on the identical wavelength as the sunshine (a phenomenon known as Rayleigh scattering), a fraction of sunshine (known as Raman scattering) is scattered at the next or decrease wavelength than the sunshine. This greater or decrease wavelength outcomes from power switch between the sunshine and the substance. Evaluation of the wavelength of the Raman scattering offers details about the molecular vibrations, photons, excitation, and/or different power details about the substance, which can be analyzed to find out the id of the substance.
Raman spectroscopy usually requires {that a} substance be manually collected and shielded from ambient radiation. Take, for instance, a lunar rover with a Raman spectroscopy system on the floor of the Moon. An operator of the rover could want to find out the id of an unknown substance discovered on the Moon. The Raman spectroscopy system could also be configured to shine a laser on the substance at 500 nm and measure Raman scattering from the substance. Even when the measuring system of the Raman spectroscopy system have been configured to filter out mild at wavelengths comparable to the laser (e.g., 500 nm), ambient radiation (e.g., mild from the solar) could comprise a large number of wavelengths which make identification and measurement of Rayleigh scattering extraordinarily tough. To keep away from such ambient radiation, the lunar rover could also be required to protect the substance from different types of radiation, e.g., utilizing a canopy. In some situations, e.g., the place a substance’s Raman scattering is especially much like ambient radiation, the substance could require assortment (e.g., within a container) and/or transportation to a darkish room for later evaluation. Such assortment and/or transportation could also be notably tough the place, for instance, the substance is just too onerous, heavy, or fragile to be readily collected and/or transported, too massive or unwieldy to be correctly lined, and/or the place frequent measurements could also be made such that assortment and storage could place undue mechanical stresses on assortment units.
Raman spectroscopy is conventionally carried out utilizing mild of a steady waveform, which can impede the accuracy of measurements. For instance, a specific type of biofluorescence could also be short-lived, whereas a specific type of mineral luminescence could also be long-lived. Use of a steady wave laser, for instance, prevents prepared distinction between biofluorescence and luminescence, notably within the presence of already-distracting ambient radiation.
SUMMARY
Facets of the current disclosure embody a stand-off ultra-compact Raman sensor and strategies associated thereto. In accordance with a number of embodiments, a laser system could transmit a laser at a specific wavelength, which can be mirrored and filtered to strike a floor of an unknown substance. Rayleigh scattering, Raman scattering, and laser-induced fluorescence from the substance could end result. The Rayleigh scattering could also be filtered out, and/or the Raman scattering and laser-induced fluorescence could also be filtered, subtle, and/or mirrored to a number of sensors. A light-weight sensor could analyze the spectrum of acquired mild and decide whether or not the acquired mild matches a fingerprint of recognized substances.
In a single side, the stand-off ultra-compact Raman sensor is configured to function with out requiring the substance to be shielded from ambient radiation and/or requiring direct bodily contact or motion of the substance. Use of a beam expander, a number of lenses, a number of filters, and/or by various properties of the laser, the stand-off ultra-compact Raman sensor could isolate Raman scattering from the substance. In a number of embodiments, the stand-off ultra-compact Raman sensor could also be reconfigured primarily based on, for instance, the gap between the stand-off ultra-compact Raman sensor and the substance. For instance, the scale of the laser could also be managed by a beam expander, such that a number of parts of the substance are uncovered to the laser, and a number of second parts of the substance usually are not uncovered to the laser. Equally, the stand-off ultra-compact Raman sensor may fluctuate, e.g., the wavelength of the laser primarily based on a prediction of the id of the substance. A number of of the adjustments or alterations to the system or system could also be mechanically carried out primarily based on a processor processing computer-executable directions on a computer-executable medium. As such, the system or system could function in a extra environment friendly method than recognized methods or strategies.
These and different options, benefits, and objects of the current invention might be additional understood and appreciated by these expert within the artwork by reference to the next specification, claims, and appended drawings.
know-how.nasa.gov
NASA’s Know-how Switch Program pursues the widest potential functions of company know-how to profit US residents. By means of partnerships and licensing agreements with trade, this system ensures that NASA’s investments in pioneering analysis discover secondary makes use of that profit the financial system, create jobs, and enhance high quality of life.
LAR-19274-1, LAR-TOPS-280
Nationwide Aeronautics and House Administration
Company Licensing Concierge
Langley Analysis Heart
Mail Cease 020
Hampton, VA 23681
202-358-7432 Company-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov
www.nasa.gov
Astrobiology, Astrochemistry, Tricorder,
