A fiber-optically based system for real-time, optical detection of individual particles and determination of their constituent composition while it is also capable of simultaneously measuring size distributions and mass concentrations in a flowing gas or a liquid, the system comprising:
- one or more compact sensor probes that can withstand a local benign or harsh environment each comprising one or more optical fibers and one or more optical elements which establish one or more detection zones outside the probe, where each optical fiber carries one or more optical pathways which are either light source pathways that transmit light into a detection zone or return signal pathways that collect scattered light from individual particles passing through a detection zone and those collected optical signals are relayed to electro-optical unit(s), which, unlike a sensor probe, can be separated from a local, potentially harsh environment;
- one or more electro-optical units each comprising one or more light sources coupled into optical fibers, one or more optical fibers used to receive collected light and relay that light to one or more receivers, and electronics for controlling light source(s), controlling receiver(s), and processing detected signal(s) based upon the type of scattering being measured, where each optical fiber carries one or more optical pathways which are either light source pathways that relay a light source to a compact sensor probe or return signal pathways that relay light collected by a sensor probe to a receiver selected from the group consisting of one or more detectors, or an array of detectors, or a spectrometer, where multiple optical pathways on an optical fiber are combined and split as necessary, where each receiver receives light at the end of a return signal pathway and converts the received optical signal into an electrical signal which contains information on the particle material along with particle size and particle shape, and where the electronics convert those electrical signals for processing to identify the particle material while also providing particle statistics;
- one or more optical fiber connections between the compact sensor probes and electro-optical units which interconnect optical pathways in an electro-optical unit to optical pathways in a compact sensor probe;
- where, when using the system for a multi-angle light scattering (MALS) technique from a detection zone, the system is configured such that one light source directs light to a light source pathway which directs light onto a detection zone, two or more return signal pathways are configured to collect elastically scattered light at two or more different scattering angles from individual particles passing through that same detection zone and direct the scattered light to two or more detectors, where elastically scattered light collected from two or more different scattering angles identifies a particle's material;
- where, when using the system for a multi-wavelength light scattering (MWLS) technique from a detection zone, the system is configured such that one or more light sources providing light at multiple wavelengths simultaneously direct light to one or more light source pathways which each direct light onto a single detection zone, two or more return signal pathways are configured to collect elastically scattered light at those multiple wavelengths from individual particles passing through that same detection zone and direct the collected light to two or more detectors, where the elastically scattered light at multiple wavelengths identifies a particle's material;
- and where, when using the system for a Raman scattering spectroscopy (RSS) technique from a detection zone, the system is configured such that one light source directs light to a light source pathway which directs light onto a detection zone, one return signal pathway is configured to collect spectral light from individual particles passing through that same detection zone and direct the spectral light to a spectrometer which identifies a particle's material.