Remote Raman and Laser-induced Fluorescence (RLIF) Emission Instrument for Detection of Mineral, Organic and Biogenic Materials on Mars to 100 Meters Radial Distance

摘要

A combined inelastic (Raman) and elastic (Mie-Rayleigh) scattering and Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) active remote sensing (RLIF) system is proposed as a mast-mounted instrument for the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). This remote RLIF system will be capable of reconnaissance and identification of mineral, organic, and biogenic materials as well as conducting atmospheric studies of Mars. This system is based on the prototypes developed with partial support from NASA at the University of Hawaii. The proposed RLIF system will perform active optical imaging and spectroscopy out to 100 m on the surface features. In the elastic backscattering mode, the range of RLIF can be extended to > 5-km because the cross section of Mie-Rayleigh scattering is several orders of magnitude higher than that of Raman cross-sections of molecular species. Results obtained with the University of Hawaii's portable remote Raman and LIF system and the portable Mie-Rayleigh prototype lidar are presented. With the remote Raman system, measurements of mineral calcite (CaCO_3), liquid hydrocarbons and solid naphthalene polycrystals have been verified to 100 m range. The LIF sensor will provide near real time in situ remote data that will complement analytical laboratory and contact suite instrumentation on the Mars rover.