Development and Testing of a Compact Remote Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Lunar Exploration

Raman spectroscopy is capable of precisely identifying and analyzing the composition and properties of samples collected from the lunar surface, providing crucial data support for lunar scientific research. However, in situ Raman spectroscopy on the lunar surface faces challenges such as weak Raman...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Haiting Zhao, Xiangfeng Liu, Weiming Xu, Daoyuantian Wen, Jianan Xie, Zhenqiang Zhang, Ziqing Jiang, Zongcheng Ling, Zhiping He, Rong Shu, Jianyu Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/5/860
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850051752785608704
author Haiting Zhao
Xiangfeng Liu
Weiming Xu
Daoyuantian Wen
Jianan Xie
Zhenqiang Zhang
Ziqing Jiang
Zongcheng Ling
Zhiping He
Rong Shu
Jianyu Wang
author_facet Haiting Zhao
Xiangfeng Liu
Weiming Xu
Daoyuantian Wen
Jianan Xie
Zhenqiang Zhang
Ziqing Jiang
Zongcheng Ling
Zhiping He
Rong Shu
Jianyu Wang
author_sort Haiting Zhao
collection DOAJ
description Raman spectroscopy is capable of precisely identifying and analyzing the composition and properties of samples collected from the lunar surface, providing crucial data support for lunar scientific research. However, in situ Raman spectroscopy on the lunar surface faces challenges such as weak Raman scattering from targets, alongside requirements for lightweight and long-distance detection. To address these challenges, time-gated Raman spectroscopy (TG-LRS) based on a passively Q-switched pulsed laser and a linear intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD), which enable simultaneous signal amplification and background suppression, has been developed to evaluate the impact of key operational parameters on Raman signal detection and to explore miniaturization optimization. The TG-LRS system includes a 40 mm zoom telescope, a passively Q-switched 532 nm pulsed laser, a fiber optic delay line, a miniature spectrometer, and a linear ICCD detector. It achieves an electronic gating width under 20 ns. Within a detection range of 1.1–3.0 m, the optimal delay time varies linearly from 20 to 33 ns. Raman signal intensity increases with image intensifier gain, while the signal-to-noise ratio peaks at a gain range of 800–900 V before declining. Furthermore, the effects of focal depth, telescope aperture, laser energy, and integration time were studied. The Raman spectra of lunar minerals were successfully obtained in the lab, confirming the system’s ability to suppress solar background light. This demonstrates the feasibility of in situ Raman spectroscopy on the lunar surface and offers strong technical support for future missions.
format Article
id doaj-art-ceef4aa7705c47f7a5d723addf4f14ad
institution DOAJ
issn 2072-4292
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Remote Sensing
spelling doaj-art-ceef4aa7705c47f7a5d723addf4f14ad2025-08-20T02:53:02ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-02-0117586010.3390/rs17050860Development and Testing of a Compact Remote Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Lunar ExplorationHaiting Zhao0Xiangfeng Liu1Weiming Xu2Daoyuantian Wen3Jianan Xie4Zhenqiang Zhang5Ziqing Jiang6Zongcheng Ling7Zhiping He8Rong Shu9Jianyu Wang10Key Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200083, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200083, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200083, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200083, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200083, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200083, ChinaShandong Key Laboratory of Optical Astronomy and Solar-Terrestrial Environment, School of Space Science and Physics, Institute of Space Sciences, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200083, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200083, ChinaKey Laboratory of Space Active Opto-Electronics Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai 200083, ChinaRaman spectroscopy is capable of precisely identifying and analyzing the composition and properties of samples collected from the lunar surface, providing crucial data support for lunar scientific research. However, in situ Raman spectroscopy on the lunar surface faces challenges such as weak Raman scattering from targets, alongside requirements for lightweight and long-distance detection. To address these challenges, time-gated Raman spectroscopy (TG-LRS) based on a passively Q-switched pulsed laser and a linear intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD), which enable simultaneous signal amplification and background suppression, has been developed to evaluate the impact of key operational parameters on Raman signal detection and to explore miniaturization optimization. The TG-LRS system includes a 40 mm zoom telescope, a passively Q-switched 532 nm pulsed laser, a fiber optic delay line, a miniature spectrometer, and a linear ICCD detector. It achieves an electronic gating width under 20 ns. Within a detection range of 1.1–3.0 m, the optimal delay time varies linearly from 20 to 33 ns. Raman signal intensity increases with image intensifier gain, while the signal-to-noise ratio peaks at a gain range of 800–900 V before declining. Furthermore, the effects of focal depth, telescope aperture, laser energy, and integration time were studied. The Raman spectra of lunar minerals were successfully obtained in the lab, confirming the system’s ability to suppress solar background light. This demonstrates the feasibility of in situ Raman spectroscopy on the lunar surface and offers strong technical support for future missions.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/5/860in situ lunar explorationRaman spectroscopyimage intensifiertime-gatedsignal-to-noise ratio
spellingShingle Haiting Zhao
Xiangfeng Liu
Weiming Xu
Daoyuantian Wen
Jianan Xie
Zhenqiang Zhang
Ziqing Jiang
Zongcheng Ling
Zhiping He
Rong Shu
Jianyu Wang
Development and Testing of a Compact Remote Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Lunar Exploration
Remote Sensing
in situ lunar exploration
Raman spectroscopy
image intensifier
time-gated
signal-to-noise ratio
title Development and Testing of a Compact Remote Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Lunar Exploration
title_full Development and Testing of a Compact Remote Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Lunar Exploration
title_fullStr Development and Testing of a Compact Remote Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Lunar Exploration
title_full_unstemmed Development and Testing of a Compact Remote Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Lunar Exploration
title_short Development and Testing of a Compact Remote Time-Gated Raman Spectrometer for In Situ Lunar Exploration
title_sort development and testing of a compact remote time gated raman spectrometer for in situ lunar exploration
topic in situ lunar exploration
Raman spectroscopy
image intensifier
time-gated
signal-to-noise ratio
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/5/860
work_keys_str_mv AT haitingzhao developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration
AT xiangfengliu developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration
AT weimingxu developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration
AT daoyuantianwen developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration
AT jiananxie developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration
AT zhenqiangzhang developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration
AT ziqingjiang developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration
AT zongchengling developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration
AT zhipinghe developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration
AT rongshu developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration
AT jianyuwang developmentandtestingofacompactremotetimegatedramanspectrometerforinsitulunarexploration