The remote UV LIF system uses a pulsed 355nm laser to induce fluorescence in a material. The whole system is placed on a computer controlled pan/tilt stage allowing automated mapping. A small camera is also attached to the system to record the position where the data is taken. The laser spot size is ~1mm. A broadband spectrometer covering the near UV to the near infrared is used to collect the emission. When combined with remote Raman/LIF spectroscopy at 780nm, the multiwavelength LIF data at 355nm and 780nm can be analysed together providing additional information on the material.
Potential Results
Remote LIF spectroscopy at standoff distances of up to tens of metres can help to characterise materials. Operating from a single position on the ground, it can conveniently analyse any object/monument without moving the instrument and it can also automatically scan an area providing a fluorescence map. It is mainly used to help material identification (e.g. organic material and semi-conductors) and it is best used in combination with complementary spectroscopic techniques such as remote reflectance spectral imaging, remote Raman and remote LIBS when appropriate.