The use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) for detection of PAHs in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Baltic Sea).

A field operable surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor system was applied for the first time under real conditions for the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as markers for petroleum hydrocarbons in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Baltic Sea). At six stations, seawater samples were taken, and the sensor system was applied in situ simultaneously. These measurements were compared to the results of conventional GC/MS laboratory analysis of the PAH concentrations in the seawater samples.

A prototype hand-held Raman sensor for the in situ characterization of meat quality.

As a tool for the in situ characterization of meat quality, a hand-held Raman sensor head using an excitation wavelength of 671 nm was developed. A microsystem-based external cavity diode laser module was integrated into the sensor head and attached to a Raman probe, which is equipped with lens optics for excitation and signal collection as well as a Raman filter stage for Rayleigh rejection. The Raman signal was guided by an optical fiber to the detection unit, which was in the initial phase a laboratory spectrometer with a charge-coupled device (CCD) detector.

Microsystem light source at 488 nm for shifted excitation resonance Raman difference spectroscopy.

A microsystem light source emitting at 488 nm was tested and applied as a light source for shifted excitation resonance Raman difference spectroscopy (SERRDS). A nonlinear frequency conversion using a distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser emission at 976 nm and a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide crystal was realized on a micro-optical bench with a footprint of 25 mm x 5 mm. Joint temperature management via the microbench is used for wavelength tuning.

Microsystem 671 nm light source for shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy.

We present a compact wavelength stabilized diode laser system at 671 nm on a micro-optical bench as a light source for shifted excitation Raman difference spectroscopy (SERDS). The laser system consists of two broad-area gain media in separate laser cavities using two reflection Bragg gratings with slightly different center wavelengths. A spectral width below 100 pm and a constant wavelength shift of 0.

Detection of PAHs in seawater using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS).

The laboratory characterization of a field-operable surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensor (SERS optode) is presented for the detection of aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater. The sensor has been developed for deployment with a robust underwater spectrograph. To meet the demands of the harsh seawater application, sol-gel derived SERS substrates were used.