Optimizing Data Reduction Procedures in Spatial Heterodyne Raman Spectroscopy with Applications to Planetary Surface...

Area of Science:

• Spectroscopy
• Interferometry
• Planetary Science

Background:

• Spatial heterodyne Raman spectrometer (SHRS) is a variant of the Michelson interferometer.
• SHRS uses diffraction gratings to produce crossed wavefronts, which are converted to Raman spectra via Fourier transform.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel intensity calibration technique for SHRS.
• To improve the quality and interpretability of Raman spectra obtained from SHRS.

Main Methods:

• Modeling the shot noise produced by the SHRS.
• Converting real noise into idealized white noise.
• Normalizing the noise mean to one for intensity axis calibration.

Main Results:

• The new technique produces Raman spectra with white noise.
• The intensity axis of the calibrated spectra is equivalent to the signal-to-noise ratio.
• Successful application to planetary science materials (minerals, inorganic salts) at a distance of 5m.

Conclusions:

• The described data reduction technique provides accurate intensity calibration for SHRS.
• This method enhances the utility of SHRS for quantitative analysis in planetary science.
• The approach offers a robust way to achieve signal-to-noise ratio directly from spectral intensity.