拉曼高光谱成像系统中光在奶粉层的穿透深度研究

拉曼高光谱成像技术不仅可以获取样本的空间分布信息,图像上每个像素点还包括了完整的光谱信息,因其信息量丰富的特点已在食品安全检测方面得到了应用。本研究探索拉曼高光谱成像系统中光在奶粉层中的穿透深度,以及采集参数和奶粉类型对穿透深度的影响。实验选取均匀奶粉层样品放置于厚度为5 mm的三聚氰胺样本之上,检测奶粉层厚度为0.8～4.0 mm时的三聚氰胺特征峰强度,以此评估光在奶粉层中的穿透性和信号衰减情况。结果显示当奶粉层厚度一定时,随着激光功率变大,拉曼特征峰值随之增加,此外更长的曝光时间也可以使拉曼信号得到增强。在激光功率不小于2 W且曝光时间不小于500 ms时,光在全脂奶粉层的穿透深度可达4 mm。奶粉层厚度在0.8～4.0 mm范围内,穿透奶粉层的拉曼信号随着奶粉层厚度增加呈指数式衰减。在激光功率为8 W、曝光时间为1 000 ms的条件下,光在全脂、低脂和脱脂奶粉层的穿透深度均达到了4 mm。在相同测量厚度下,通过脱脂奶粉层接收的拉曼信号弱于通过全脂和低脂奶粉层接收的拉曼信号强度。研究结果为拉曼高光谱检测中奶粉样品的前处理提供了有益参考。     

Photon migration of Raman signal in bone as measured with spatially offset Raman spectroscopy

Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) is currently being developed as an in vivo tool for bone disease detection, but to date, information about the interrogated volume as influenced by the light propagation and scattering characteristics of the bone matrix is still limited. This paper seeks to develop our general understanding of the sampling depths of SORS in bone specimens as a function of the applied spatial offset. Equine metacarpal bone was selected as a suitable specimen of compact cortical bone large enough to allow several thin slices (600 µm) to be cut from the dorsal surface. Photon migration at 830‐nm excitation was studied with five bone slices and a 380‐µm‐thin polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) slice placed consecutively between the layers. To optimize Raman signal recovery of the PTFE with increasing depth within the bone stack required a corresponding increase in spatial offset. For example, to sample effectively at 2.2‐mm depth within the bone required an optimal SORS offset of 7 mm. However, with a 7‐mm offset, the maximum accessible penetration depth from which the PTFE signal could be still recovered was 3.7 mm. These results provide essential basic information for developing SORS technology for medical diagnostics in general and optimizing sampling through bone tissue, permitting a better understanding of the relationship between the offset and depth of bone assessed, in particular. Potential applications include the detection of chemically specific markers for changes in bone matrix chemistry localized within the tissue and not present in healthy bone. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ultrafast Raman loss spectroscopy (URLS): instrumentation and principle

In this paper, we report on the concept and the design principle of ultrafast Raman loss spectroscopy (URLS) as a structure‐elucidating tool. URLS is an analogue of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) but more sensitive than SRS with better signal‐to‐noise ratio. It involves the interaction of two laser sources, namely, a picosecond (ps) Raman pump pulse and a white‐light (WL) continuum, with a sample, leading to the generation of loss signals on the higher energy (blue) side with respect to the wavelength of the Raman pump unlike the gain signal observed on the lower energy (red) side in SRS. These loss signals are at least 1.5 times more intense than the SRS signals. An experimental study providing an insight into the origin of this extra intensity in URLS as compared to SRS is reported. Furthermore, the very requirement of the experimental protocol for the signal detection to be on the higher energy side by design eliminates the interference from fluorescence, which appears on the red side. Unlike CARS, URLS signals are not precluded by the non‐resonant background and, being a self‐phase‐matched process, URLS is experimentally easier. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Temporal filtering with fast ICCD cameras in Raman studies

A common problem when applying Raman scattering in applied research is spectral interference from laser‐induced fluorescence. Extensive work has been invested in developing spectral and polarization filters as well as modulation schemes to refine spontaneous Raman signals. This current work, however, focuses on utilizing the temporal domain using a picosecond laser system and ICCD cameras with relatively short decay of the camera gate to prevent the fluorescence tail from being captured in Raman experiments. Further, the approach of using an ICCD camera to perform temporal filtering is compared to earlier proposed detection schemes using streak cameras or Kerr gates. The temporal‐filtering scheme is evaluated in a spectroscopic investigation where a background subtraction algorithm is presented. The temporal‐filtering scheme was also evaluated for Raman imaging of a levitated water droplet surrounded by fluorescing toluene vapor. Furthermore, the temporal‐filter detection scheme was simulated in order to provide straight forward evaluation tools to estimate the potential of performing temporal filtering with a laser/camera system considering: laser‐pulse duration, time jitter, camera‐gate characteristics, gate delay times, fluorescence lifetimes, and relative signal strength between the Raman and fluorescence signal. The fluorescence signal was modeled with a closed two‐level system, and the simulated results were compared to results from an investigation of the rising slope of toluene fluorescence. These evaluation tools and experimental investigations may serve as guidelines for planning and performing Raman measurements in situations where traditional filter‐rejection schemes are insufficient. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vertical flow apparatus for enhancement and efficient collection of Raman signal

To improve the signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratio of Raman spectra, we developed a sample flow system in a vertical flow apparatus (VFA). The VFA consists of a brass plate with a drilled pinhole, cover slip on the brass plate, circulation pump, and reservoir. The sample solution flows through a gap between the brass plate and cover slip, spouts from the pinhole, and forms a laminar flow column. The sample column and surrounding air, respectively, serve as the core and cladding of an optical fiber that confines both excitation beam and scattered light owing to the total reflection at the core–cladding interface. The VFA enabled the enhancement and efficient collection of the Raman signal. The VFA with a 0.2‐mm pinhole produced a 12.0‐fold enhancement of the non‐resonant Raman signal of H₂O compared to that measured using a capillary, and the S/N ratio exhibited a 4.1‐fold enhancement. The signal count was inversely proportional to the square of the pinhole diameter (φ), possibly owing to the dependence on the density of the electromagnetic energy of the excitation beam in the sample column. The S/N ratio was inversely proportional to φ because the signal enhancement was accompanied by an increase in the photon shot noise. The VFA also produced a 4.9‐fold enhancement of the resonance Raman signal of Congo red, although the enhancement factor was smaller than that in the non‐resonant Raman measurement. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A portable shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy system: device and field demonstration

In this paper, we present a portable shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS) system applied in outdoor experiments. A dual‐wavelength diode laser emitting at 785 nm is used as excitation light source. The diode laser provides two individually controllable excitation lines at 785 nm with a spectral distance of about 10 cm⁻¹ for SERDS. This monolithic light source is implemented into a compact handheld Raman probe. Both components were developed and fabricated in‐house. SERDS measurements are performed in an apple orchard, and apples and green apple leafs are used as test samples. For each excitation wavelength, a single Raman spectrum is measured with 50 mW at the sample. Strong background interference from ambient daylight and laser‐induced fluorescence obscure the Raman signals. SERDS efficiently separates the wanted Raman signals from the disturbing background signals. For the Raman spectroscopic investigations of green leafs, one accumulation with an exposure time of 0.2 s was used for each excitation wavelength to avoid detector saturation. An 11‐fold improvement of the signal‐to‐background noise is achieved using SERDS. The results demonstrate the suitability of the portable SERDS system for rapid outdoor Raman investigations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

人全血的毛细管显微拉曼光谱分析

血液中含有众多生物信息,如激素、酶、抗体等丰富的蛋白质成分。通过对血液中众多生物信息进行检测鉴定可以起到对该血液种属判定、溯源的目的。因此,血液检测技术的发展在诸如刑事案件侦破、物种鉴定、疾症预防等领域具有重要意义。目前,传统血液检测手段多为显微观测、免疫法、DNA/基因检测法等,这些技术会对血液样本造成不可逆转的破坏性,且存在分析周期长、结构装置复杂、试验价格昂贵等问题。随着激光技术的发展,拉曼光谱技术作为一种非线性散射光谱技术,在血液检测技术中得到了应用。在血液检测技术中,拉曼光谱技术通常与共聚焦显微系统结合,对涂在载玻片上或盛放在透明容器中的血液样品进行光谱信号采集。该技术具有快速、无损等优势,但复杂的光路系统及昂贵的实验装置限制了该技术的广泛推广。为提出一种装置简单、操作简便的血液拉曼检测新技术,研究采用基于毛细管的显微拉曼技术方案采集并分析人全血的拉曼信号。血液样品通过毛细管的虹吸效应取样,与载玻片的涂样方式相比毛细管的方案具有模拟人血管、维持血液活性、减小空气对实验过程中血液成分的影响、降低激光对血液样品的灼伤效果等优势。为避开可见光部分荧光较强区域的荧光干扰,研究采用360 nm紫外激光器作为激发光源,防止可见荧光信号的干扰。积分时间设为800 ms,有效避免因激光长时间照射对血液样品的灼伤效果,影响实验数据的稳定性与真实性,光谱平均次数为2次,避免单次测量所带来的数据的不准确性影响。光谱扫描范围为500～1 800 cm-1, 结果表明此范围内可较好的避开可见光部分荧光较强区域的干扰。测得的拉曼光谱信号通过滤波去噪及基线校正进行处理。首先采用5阶离散小波变换滤波,进行1层信号分解,滤除高频噪声信号,保留低频有效信号,从而去除杂散信号,对光谱有效信号进行提取。其次,采用4阶多项式拟合扣除基底的基线校正,实现人全血的毛细管显微拉曼光谱峰值信号的提取。最终,通过查询SDBS数据库以及人血样本通过reishaw共聚焦显微拉曼光谱仪测量所得光谱图进行验证发现测得信号中部分为人体内数种氨基酸成分的拉曼信号。实验研究发现,基于毛细管的显微拉曼实验系统与常规拉曼探头实验系统相比,拉曼信号更稳定、重复性高,可有效提取人全血中的拉曼光谱信号, 而其与高精度的共聚焦显微拉曼系统相比价格便宜、结构简单、易于推广等优点,但信号信噪比、有效信号的峰值强度上仍有进一步的提升,是一种测量人全血拉曼信号的可行方案。     

Low‐noise,vibrational phase‐sensitive chemical imaging by balanced detection RIKE

We perform a back‐to‐back comparison between two nonlinear vibrational imaging techniques: stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and balanced detection Raman‐induced Kerr effect (BD‐RIKE). Using a compact fiber‐based laser system for generation of pump and Stokes signals, we image polymer beads as well as human hepatocytes under the same experimental conditions. We show that BD‐RIKE, despite the slightly lower signal levels, consistently offers an improved signal‐to‐noise ratio with respect to SRS, resulting in significantly higher image quality. Importantly, we observe that such quality is not affected by the static birefringence of the sample, which makes BD‐RIKE a robust and attractive alternative to SRS. We also highlight a unique advantage of the technique, which is its capability to easily access both the real and imaginary parts of the nonlinear susceptibility, thus allowing for vibrational phase imaging. The phase information can be readily obtained from BD‐RIKE with minimal experimental effort and provides an additional chemical selectivity channel for coherent Raman microscopy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

基于空芯光纤增强拉曼光谱气体探测方法研究

拉曼光谱技术具有多组分同时探测、分析周期短和非接触等特点,被应用于多个领域,但是由于较低的探测灵敏度,限制了拉曼光谱技术的发展。针对提高拉曼光谱技术对气体探测灵敏度问题,本文设计并搭建了一套基于空芯光纤气体拉曼光谱增强系统,开展了空芯光纤拉曼光谱系统和后向散射拉曼光谱实验系统对比实验研究。实验结果表明,空芯光纤对信号、背景和噪声都具有放大效果,以空气中氮气和氧气为探测物质,与后向拉曼光谱信号相比,在相同探测时间情况下,信号强度增强60倍以上,信噪比增强约6倍;在相同探测强度情况下,探测时间仅为后向散射的1/60,噪声为后向散射拉曼系统的1/2。     

Na_2SO_4溶液激光拉曼/激光诱导击穿光谱联合探测

光谱技术应用于海底极端环境下多参数、多相态、无接触探测已成为深海化学传感器发展的一个重要方向,尤其是水下激光拉曼光谱技术和水下激光诱导击穿光谱技术正成为目前研究开发的热点。该工作旨在探索一项水下激光诱导击穿光谱与激光拉曼光谱(LIBS-LRS)联合探测技术,以实现LIBS和拉曼两种检测技术在检测系统上的整合,在信息获取上的互补。在实验室搭建了一套LIBS-LRS联合探测装置,该装置对于拉曼和LIBS采用同样的激发光源、光谱仪和探测器,前置光路分为两部分:拉曼光路和LIBS光路,分别收集Na_2SO_4溶液的拉曼信号和LIBS信号。前置光路收集的拉曼和LIBS信号由Y型光纤导入光谱仪,分别在面阵CCD不同区域进行探测。利用该装置对配置的Na_2SO_4溶液进行探测,同时获得了Na元素的LIBS信号和SO~(2-)_4拉曼信号。另外,随着激光能量的提高,在532nm脉冲激光能量超过3.6mJ时,在拉曼光路同时获得了Na元素的LIBS信号和SO~(2-)_4拉曼信号,这样采用同一光路即可实现两种光谱技术的联合,然而实验发现,随着激光能量的增加,激光在溶液中击穿产生的轫致辐射造成了光谱探测基线整体的抬升,对拉曼光谱弱信号的探测是不利的。实验结果初步证明了在拉曼和LIBS在水下联合探测的可行性。     

Study of Raman spectrum of uranium using a surface‐enhanced Raman scattering technique

Raman spectroscopic investigation on weak scatterers such as metals is a challenging scientific problem. Technologically important actinide metals such as uranium and plutonium have not been investigated using Raman spectroscopy possibly due to poor signal intensities. We report the first Raman spectrum of uranium metal using a surface‐enhanced Raman scattering‐like geometry where a thin gold overlayer is deposited on uranium. Raman spectra are detected from the pits and scratches on the sample and not from the smooth polished surface. The 514.5‐ and 785‐nm laser excitations resulted in the Raman spectra of uranium metal whereas 325‐nm excitation did not give rise to such spectra. Temperature dependence of the B_3g mode at 126 cm⁻¹ is also investigated. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plasmon‐enhanced polarized Raman spectroscopy for sensitive surface characterization

Local‐mode and localized surface plasmons generated on the silver thin film can selectively enhance the Raman signal from the surface. Further improvement of surface signal can be obtained by using the polarized Raman technique that results in a dramatic enhancement of the surface sensitivity by up to 25.4 times as compared to that without a silver coating. This technique will be very useful for Raman study on samples that suffer overlapping background signal. In this article, we show that it can be used to significantly improve the signal of thin strained‐Si layer on top of SiGe buffer layer. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Non‐invasive depth profiling by space and time‐resolved Raman spectroscopy

Time‐resolved Raman spectroscopy, spatially offset Raman spectroscopy and time‐resolved spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (TR‐SORS) have proven their capability for the non‐invasive profiling of deep layers of a sample. Recent studies have indicated that TR‐SORS exhibits an enhanced selectivity toward the deep layers of a sample. However, the enhanced depth profiling efficiency of TR‐SORS, in comparison with time‐resolved Raman spectroscopy and spatially offset Raman spectroscopy, is yet to be assessed and explained in accordance to the synergistic effects of spatial and temporal resolutions. This study provides a critical investigation of the depth profiling efficiency of the three deep Raman techniques. The study compares the efficiency of the various deep Raman spectroscopy techniques for the stand‐off detection of explosive precursors hidden in highly fluorescing packaging. The study explains for the first time the synergistic effects of spatial and temporal resolutions in the deep Raman techniques and their impact on the acquired spectral data. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantitative analysis of sugar composition in honey using 532‐nm excitation Raman and Raman optical activity spectra

Raman spectroscopy based on the 1064‐nm laser excitation was suggested as a handy non‐invasive technique allowing to quickly determine sugar content in honey and similar food products. In the present study, the green 532‐nm laser radiation is explored instead as it provides higher‐quality spectra in a shorter time. The sample fluorescence was quenched by purification with activated carbon. For control mixture decomposition of Raman spectra to standard subspectra led to a typical error of the sugar content of 3%. Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra that could be measured at the shorter excitation wavelength as well provided a lower accuracy (~8%) than the Raman spectra because of instrumental sensitivity and noise limitations. The results show that Raman spectroscopy provides elegant and reliable means for fast analyses of sugar‐based food products. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wide area Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy allows nondestructive analysis of materials using laser illumination. However, most Raman spectrometers can only provide good signal levels and sufficient spectral resolution, by focusing the laser to micrometer-sized spots. This equates to enormous laser intensities, which for samples with even very minor optical absorption either means destroying or damaging it by absorbing even a tiny fraction of the laser power, or it means reducing the laser intensity and hence the signal level. Furthermore, Raman signals generated above or below the focal plane are rejected in traditional Raman spectrometers. As signal levels are already extremely low in Raman spectroscopy, several schemes offer an alternative to focusing down to a diffraction-limited spot, to increase the area by up to 6 orders of magnitude, and increase the sampling depth. This review describes and compares these schemes, and estimates the typical illumination areas.     

On the noise limit of stress and temperature measurements with micro‐Raman spectroscopy

We report for the first time on the thorough experimental and theoretical assessment of the noise limit of mechanical stress and temperature measurements with micro‐Raman spectroscopy. A comprehensive study has been performed in which, for different incident laser light intensities and acquisition times, 1000 Raman spectra of mono‐crystalline silicon were acquired per setting. Curve fitting was employed to obtain the peak positions of all the spectra, from which the standard deviations of the measured peak positions were obtained versus the total accumulated amount of laser light incident on the sample during one measurement. It has been found that the noise in the obtained peak position decreases as 1/sqrt(n) over more than three decades of the incident amount of laser light. At very low light conditions, the noise decreases as 1/n. By comparing the experimental results obtained to recent theoretical work, we show that the acquisition is limited by photon shot noise over most of the range and is limited by electronic detector noise at very low light conditions only. Pixelation errors do not play a role. It is concluded that the low electronic noise of typical Raman spectroscope detectors is overkill for the investigation of mechanical stress and temperature in silicon and other materials with comparable peaks, as it has absolutely no influence on the noise level of such an experiment. Maximum Raman signal intensity on the detector and high quantum efficiency detection are more important. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stimulated Raman spectroscopy using chirped pulses

We present a detailed theoretical and experimental characterization of a new methodology for stimulated Raman spectroscopy using two duplicates of a chirped, broadband laser pulse. Because of the linear variation of laser frequency with time (‘chirp’), when the pulses are delayed relative to one another, there exists a narrow bandwidth, instantaneous frequency difference between them, which, when resonant with a Raman‐active vibration in the sample, generates stimulated Raman gain in one pulse and inverse Raman loss in the other. This method has previously been used for coherent Raman imaging and termed ‘spectral focusing’. Here, gain and loss signals are spectrally resolved, and the spectrally integrated signals are used to determine the spectral resolution of the measured Raman spectrum. Material dispersion is used to generate a range of pulse durations, and it is shown that there is only a small change in the magnitude of the signal and the spectral resolution as the pulse is stretched from 800 to 1800 fs in duration. A quantitative theory of the technique is developed, which reproduces both the magnitude and linewidth of the experimental signals when third‐order dispersion and phase‐matching efficiency are included. The theoretical calculations show that both spectral resolution and signal magnitude are severely hampered by the third‐order dispersion in the laser pulse, and hence, a minimal amount of chirp produces the most signal with only a slight loss of spectral resolution. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Experimentally validated Raman Monte Carlo simulation for a cuboid object to obtain Raman spectroscopic signatures for hidden material

In conventional Raman spectroscopic measurements of liquids or surfaces the preferred geometry for detection of the Raman signal is the backscattering (or reflection) mode. For non‐transparent layered materials, sub‐surface Raman signals have been retrieved using spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS), usually with light collection in the same plane as the point of excitation. However, as a result of multiple scattering in a turbid medium, Raman photons will be emitted in all directions. In this study, Monte Carlo simulations for a three‐dimensional layered sample with finite geometry have been performed to confirm the detectability of Raman signals at all angles and at all sides of the object. We considered a non‐transparent cuboid container (high density polyethylene) with explosive material (ammonium nitrate) inside. The simulation results were validated with experimental Raman intensities. Monte Carlo simulation results reveal that the ratio of sub‐surface to surface signals improves at geometries other than backscattering. In addition, we demonstrate through simulations the effects of the absorption and scattering coefficients of the layers, and that of the diameter of the excitation beam. The advantage of collecting light from all possible 4π angles, over other collection modes, is that this technique is not geometry specific and molecular identification of layers underneath non‐transparent surfaces can be obtained with minimal interference from the surface layer. To what extent all sides of the object will contribute to the total signal will depend on the absorption and scattering coefficients and the physical dimensions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Laser Source with High Spectral Purity for Simple Tunable Laser Raman Instrument

The authors present an external cavity diode laser with high spectral purity for tunable laser Raman spectroscopy. To achieve high spectral purity required for Raman spectroscopy, a laser cavity utilizing a volume phase holographic grating, which has very low stray light, is developed and the first-order diffracted beam from the grating is taken as the output. Raman signals can be obtained from common samples with only a commercial laser rejection filter, greatly simplifying a tunable Raman instrument.     

The interaction of iron and metal‐free meso‐tetra (4‐sulfonatophenyl) porphines with CVD graphene: a comparative Raman spectroscopy study

In this work, a non‐covalent interaction of iron and metal‐free meso‐tetra (4‐sulfonatophenyl) porphines (FeTPPS and TPPS, respectively) with high‐quality single‐layer graphene is studied by Raman spectroscopy. Such a kind of graphene functionalization is promising for a development of novel optoelectronic devices and sensors. Our results show that the central metal atom of porphyrin macrocycle, iron particularly, plays an important role in the integrity of FeTPPS on graphene surface; however, the predicted Raman enhancement is not significant. The interaction of metal‐free TPPS with graphene leads to the deprotonation of TPPS molecules and higher Raman enhancement values. Moreover, initially deprotonated TPPS solutions after the adsorption onto the graphene surface demonstrate the appearance of new Raman bands and significantly enhanced Raman signals. We propose that a strong interaction between deprotonated TPPS and graphene is realized through pyrrole and desulfonated phenyl rings of closely located planar TPPS molecules on the graphene surface. The results show that both the protonation of porphyrin macrocycle and the existence of central metal atom are crucial for a formation of nanocomposites with defined electronic properties. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.