Airborne contaminants, e.g., bacterial spores, are usually analyzed by time
consuming microscopic, chemical and biological assays. Current research into
real time laser spectroscopic detectors of such contaminants is based on e.g.
resonant Raman spectroscopy. The present approach derives from recent
experiments in which atoms and molecules are prepared by one (or more) coherent
laser(s) and probed by another set of lasers. The connection with previous
studies based on "Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy" (CARS) is to be
noted. However generating and utilizing maximally coherent oscillation in
macromolecules having an enormous number of degrees of freedom is much more
challenging. This extension of the CARS technique is called FAST CARS
(Femtosecond Adaptive Spectroscopic Techniques for Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman
Spectroscopy), and the present paper proposes and analyses ways in which it
could be used to rapidly identify pre-selected molecules in real time.Comment: 43 pages, 21 figures; replacement with references added. Submitted to
the Proceedings of National Academy of Science
