To develop a compact Raman spectroscopy system with features that will make it suitable for future space missions which require surface landing. Specifically, this system will be appropriate for any mission in which planetary surface samples need to be measured and analyzed

Abedin, M. Nurul

Davis, Derek

Elsayed-Ali, Hani

Hornef, James

Lucas, John

NASA Technical Reports Server

Ultra-Compact Raman 
Spectrometer for Planetary 
Explorations
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160009256 2019-08-31T02:13:29+00:00Z
Team
Derek Davis
Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering
In collaboration with: 
James Hornef (ECE 487 senior design team)
John Lucas (ECE 487 senior design team)
Faculty Adviser:
Dr. Hani Elsayed-Ali
NASA Adviser: 
Dr. M Nurul Abedin
Objective
To develop a compact Raman spectroscopy system 
with features that will make it suitable for future 
space missions which require surface landing. 
Specifically, this system will be appropriate for any 
mission in which planetary surface samples need to 
be measured and analyzed. 
What is Raman Spectroscopy?
When light hits matter, how does it react?
 Absorbed
 Reflected
 Scattered
What is Raman Spectroscopy?
Scattered Light
 Determined by properties of target
 Unique “fingerprint” for different molecules
 Note: Not all materials create Raman 
scattered signals
What is Raman Spectroscopy?
Raleigh Scattered
Example of photon behavior when hitting polarizable material
What is Raman Spectroscopy?
Example Raman spectra of (a) water, and (b) ice [2]
Recap: Raman Spectroscopy
 Powerful technique for detecting both organic 
and inorganic materials inside of a sample 
material
 Uses lasers to excite and vibrate molecules 
inside of unknown material
 Vibrational pattern of material can be 
measured to identify molecular composition
Spectrometer 
Device that takes in light and disperses it into its 
component wavelengths
Uses:
 Carbon Dating
 Respiratory gas analysis
 protein characterization
 Raman Spectroscopy
Realistic Constraints
 Lightweight, small footprint, for installation on planetary rovers
 Ability to measure samples within a range of < 20 cm with no 
physical samples taken 
 Ability to operate in bright light (daytime), and low light 
(nighttime) environments
 Ability to detect water, biological, and organic compounds
 Ability to detect all minerals, regardless of physical appearance 
(light / dark)
 Ability to detect Raman signals in the presence of fluorescence
Design Approach
Block diagram of proposed system using a laser, 
neutral density filter (ND), a 45° mirror (P1), notch 
filters (NF1, NF2), A 20x magnification microscope 
objective (20x M), a slit (S1), achromatic lenses (L1, 
L2) a volume phase holographic grating (HG), and a 
mini ICCD camera.
Spectrometer
Laser
Nd:YAG (Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet; 
Nd:Y3Al5O12), diode pumped,  Q-switched Laser 
model number QL532-500. Manufactured by Crystal 
Laser LC, this 532nm 500 mW laser will be operating at a 
switched rate of 1 kHz. 
Spectrometer
ND: Neutral Density Filter
Lowers the intensity of the output laser without 
affecting the wavelength
Protects back end optics from damage
Spectrometer
NF1: Dichroic 532nm Mirror
Reflects 90% of 532nm light while passing other 
wavelengths
NF2: 532nm Notch Filter
Filters remaining 532nm light
Spectrometer
20x M: Microscope Objective
Intensifies captured Raman signal. Allows the 
spectrometer to capture and analyze weak signals.
Spectrometer
S1: 50µm Slit
Determines the amount of light that is allowed into the 
spectrometer
Setting the Slit focal length
Lost signal 
Full signal 
Example of (a), incorrect length and 
(b) correct focal length
Spectrometer
L1: Focusing Lens
5mm achromatic doublet
1 cm focal length
Maximizes signal intensity into the holographic 
grating.
Spectrometer
HG: Holographic Grating
Transmission grating with angles of incidence and 
transmission of 45°
Splits incoming light into component wavelengths
2x Fused gratings
Output from grating
Output of grating using all visible light
Spectrometer
L2: Collection Lens
10mm achromatic doublet
3 cm focal length
Captures light spectrum generated by the 
holographic grating and directs it into the ICCD
Choosing a collection lens
(a) Reflective grating with 5mm collection lens capturing full spectrum, 
(b) Transmission grating with 5mm collection lens capturing partial 
spectrum, and (c) Transmission grating with 1in collection lens 
capturing full spectrum.
Spectrometer
ICCD
Captures the image from the collection lens and 
converts it into a digital image
2048 X 2048 pixel resolution
Prototype System
Laser aligned breadboard system
8.79cm x 2.03cm
Prototype System
Engineering Standards
 ASNI Z136.1-2007: The American Nation Standard for Safe Use of Lasers
 NASA-STD-(I)-0007 NASA Computer-Aided Design Interoperability
 NASA-STD 8739.6 Implementation Requirements for NASA Workmanship 
Standards
 IEEE 1394-2008 IEEE Standard for a High-Performance Serial Bus
 ExpressCard 2.0 Standard
References
1. S. Sharma, A. Misra and P. Lucey, "A combined remote Raman and fluorescence 
spectrometer system for detecting inorganic and biological materials", Lidar Remote 
Sensing for Environmental Monitoring VII, 2006.
2. N. Abedin, et al., “Compact remote multi-sensing instrument for planetary surfaces and 
atmospheres characterization”, Applied Optics, vol. 52, pp. 3116-3126, 2013.
3. C. Walker, "Spectrometer Technology and Applications", Azom.com, 2013. [Online]. 
Available: http://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=10245. [Accessed: 26- Mar-
2016].
4. ASNI Z136.1-2007, 1st ed. Orlando, Fla.: Laser Institute of America, 2015, pp. 1-81. [PDF] 
Available: https://www.lia.org/PDF/Z136_1_s.pdf [Accessed: 20-Mar- 2016]
5. NASA-STD-(I)-0007 NASA COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN INTEROPERABILITY, 1st ed. Washington, 
DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2009.
6. NASA-STD 8739.6 IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS FOR NASA WORKMANSHIP STANDARDS, 
1st ed. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2012.
7. IEEE Std 1394™-2008: IEEE Standard for a High-Performance Serial Bus, 1st ed. New York, 
NY: IEEE-SA Standards Board, 2008.
8. ExpressCard Standard 2.0, 1st ed. San Jose, CA: PCMCIA, 2009.


Ultra-Compact Raman Spectrometer for Planetary Explorations

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