Time and space resolved standoff hyperspectral IED explosives LIDAR detection

A system comprising:

• a laser light source configured to illuminate a target area having an unknown sample, to thereby produce scattered photons and plasma emitted photons from different locations on or within the sample;
• a broadband light source that illuminates the sample with broadband light to thereby produce photons reflected from different locations on or within the unknown sample,
• a first optical system coupled to said laser light source to direct light to the target area having the unknown sample;
• a video capture device that outputs a dynamic image of the target area;
• a first two-dimensional array of detection elements;
• a second optical system that collects said reflected, said scattered, and said plasma emitted photons, and directs the collected reflected photons to said first two-dimensional array of detection elements coupled to said second optical system and further directs the collected scattered and plasma emitted photons to a fiber array spectral translator device coupled to said second optical system;
• wherein said first two-dimensional array detects in a spatially accurate manner said reflected photons received from said second optical system to thereby generate one or more of:
• a plurality of spatially accurate wavelength resolved infrared images and a plurality of spatially resolved infrared spectra;
• wherein said fiber array spectral translator device outputs at least one of the following received from said second optical system:
• said collected plasma emitted photons, and
• said collected scattered photons,
• and includes a two-dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one-dimensional fiber stack so as to effectively convert a two-dimensional field of view into a curvilinear field of view;
• a photodiode coupled to said first optical system to generate a gating signal to synchronize an acquisition time of a second two dimensional array of detection elements with a pulse width of laser light emanating from said laser light source;
• a spectrograph coupled to said one-dimensional fiber stack of said fiber array spectral translator device, wherein an entrance slit of the spectrograph is coupled to said one dimensional fiber stack to perform at least one of the following:
• disperse said scattered photons output by the fiber array spectral translator device to generate a plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra, and disperse said plasma emitted photons output by the fiber array spectral translator device to generate a plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra;
• and
• wherein said second two dimensional array of detection elements coupled to said spectrograph detects the plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra or the plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra produced by said spectrograph.

A system comprising:

• a laser light source configured to illuminate a target area having an unknown sample, to thereby produce luminescence emitted photons, scattered photons and plasma emitted photons from different locations on or within the sample;
• a broadband light source that illuminates the sample with broadband light to thereby produce photons reflected from different locations on or within the unknown sample,
• a first optical system coupled to said laser light source to direct light to the target area having the unknown sample;
• a video capture device that outputs a dynamic image of the target area;
• a first two-dimensional array of detection elements;
• an infrared two-dimensional array of detection elements;
• a second optical system that collects said luminescence emitted, said reflected, said scattered, and said plasma emitted photons, and directs the collected luminescence emitted photons to said first two-dimensional array of detection elements coupled, directs the collected reflected photons to said infrared two-dimensional array of detection elements coupled to said second optical system, and further directs the collected scattered and plasma emitted photons to a fiber array spectral translator device coupled to said second optical system;
• wherein said first two-dimensional array detects in a spatially accurate manner said luminescence emitted photons received from said second optical system to thereby generate a plurality of spatially resolved fluorescence spectra;
• wherein said infrared two-dimensional array detects in a spatially accurate manner said reflected photons received from said second optical system;
• wherein said fiber array spectral translator device outputs at least one of the following received from said second optical system:
• said collected plasma emitted photons, and
• said collected scattered photons,
• and includes a two-dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one-dimensional fiber stack so as to effectively convert a two-dimensional field of view into a curvilinear field of view;
• a photodiode coupled to said first optical system to generate a gating signal to synchronize an acquisition time of a second two dimensional array of detection elements with a pulse width of laser light emanating from said laser light source;
• a spectrograph coupled to said one-dimensional fiber stack of said fiber array spectral translator device, wherein an entrance slit of the spectrograph is coupled to said one dimensional fiber stack to perform at least one of the following:
• disperse said scattered photons output by the fiber array spectral translator device to generate a plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra, and disperse said plasma emitted photons output by the fiber array spectral translator device to generate a plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra;
• and
• wherein said second two dimensional array of detection elements coupled to said spectrograph detects the plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra or the plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra produced by said spectrograph.

A method comprising:

• surveying an above ground area to identify a region of interest based on at least one of size, shape and color of the region of interest;
• illuminating the region of interest with a plurality of photons to thereby produce emitted photons from the region of interest;
• analyzing the emitted photons, produced by the region of interest, using fluorescence spectroscopy to produce at least one of the following:
• a plurality of spatially resolved fluorescence spectra and a plurality wavelength resolved fluorescence images;
• using at least one of the following to identify a target area:
• the plurality of spatially resolved fluorescence spectra and the plurality wavelength resolved fluorescence images;
• illuminating the target area with a plurality of photons to thereby produce Raman scattered photons and plasma emitted photons from the target area;
• collecting, via a fiber array spectral translator device, Raman scattered photons and plasma emitted photons produced by the target area, wherein said device comprises a two dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one dimensional fiber stack so as to effectively convert a two-dimensional field of view into a curvilinear field of view;
• analyzing the Raman scattered photons, produced by the target area, using Raman spectroscopy to produce a plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra;
• analyzing the plasma emitted photons, produced by the target area, using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy to produce a plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra;
• and
• applying a fusion algorithm to at least two of the following to identify one or more chemical compounds in the target area:
• the plurality of spatially resolved fluorescence spectra, the plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra and the plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra.

A method comprising:

• surveying a subsurface area to identify a region of interest based on at least one of size, shape and color of the region of interest;
• illuminating the region of interest with a plurality of photons to thereby produce reflected photons from the region of interest;
• analyzing the reflected photons, produced by the region of interest, using near infrared spectroscopy to produce at least one of the following:
• a plurality of spatially resolved near infrared spectra and a plurality wavelength resolved near infrared images;
• using at least one of the following to identify a target area:
• the plurality of spatially resolved near infrared spectra and the plurality wavelength resolved near infrared images;
• illuminating the target area with a plurality of photons to thereby produce Raman scattered photons and plasma emitted photons from the target area;
• collecting, via a fiber array spectral translator device, Raman scattered photons and plasma emitted photons produced by the target area, wherein said device comprises a two dimensional non-linear array of optical fibers drawn into a one dimensional fiber stack so as to effectively convert a two-dimensional field of view into a curvilinear field of view;
• analyzing the Raman scattered photons, produced by the target area, using Raman spectroscopy to produce a plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra;
• analyzing the plasma emitted photons, produced by the target area, using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy to produce a plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra;
• and
• applying a fusion algorithm to at least two of the following to identify one or more chemical compounds in the target area:
• the plurality of spatially resolved near infrared spectra, the plurality of spatially resolved Raman spectra and the plurality of spatially resolved atomic spectra.