A Novel LIBS Sensor for Sample Examinations on a Crime Scene.

In this work, we present a compact LIBS sensor developed for characterization of samples on a crime scene following requirements of law enforcement agencies involved in the project. The sensor operates both in a tabletop mode, for aside measurements of swabbed materials or taken fragments, and in handheld mode where the sensor head is pointed directly on targets at the scene. The sensor head is connected via an umbilical to an instrument box that could be battery-powered and contains also a color camera for sample visualization, illumination LEDs, and pointing system for placing the target in focus.

Fast Detection of Different Water Contaminants by Raman Spectroscopy and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

Fast monitoring of water quality is a fundamental part of environmental management and protection, in particular, the possibility of qualitatively and quantitatively determining its contamination at levels that are dangerous for human health, fauna and flora. Among the techniques currently available, Raman spectroscopy and its variant, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), have several advantages, including no need for sample preparation, quick and easy operation and the ability to operate on the field. This article describes the application of the Raman and SERS technique to liquid samples contaminated with different classes of substances, including nitrates, phosphates, pesticides and their metabolites.

Cells Selectively Captured by Phages and Identified by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Technique.

In this work, the results on the detection and identification of () cells by using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are presented. has been chosen as a harmless surrogate of the pathogen () responsible for the deadly Anthrax disease, because of their genetic similarities. Drops of 200 μL of suspensions, with concentrations 10 CFU/mL, 10 CFU/mL, 10 CFU/mL, were deposited on a SERS chip and sampled after water evaporation.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based immunosystem for ultrasensitive detection of the 90K biomarker.

The research and the individuation of tumour markers in biological fluids are currently one of the main tools to support diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of the therapeutic response in oncology. Although the identification of tumour markers in asymptomatic patients is crucial for early diagnosis, its application is still limited by the relatively low sensitivity and the complexity of existing methods (i.e.

Integrated Laser Sensor (ILS) for Remote Surface Analysis: Application for Detecting Explosives in Fingerprints.

Here, we describe an innovative Integrated Laser Sensor (ILS) that combines four spectroscopic techniques and two vision systems into a unique, transportable device. The instrument performs Raman and Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy excited at 355 nm and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) excited at 1064 nm, and it also detects Laser Scattering (LS) from the target under illumination at 650 nm. The combination of these techniques supplies information about: material change from one scanning point to another, the presence of surface contaminants, and the molecular and elemental composition of top target layers.

Proximal Detection of Traces of Energetic Materials with an Eye-Safe UV Raman Prototype Developed for Civil Applications.

A new Raman-based apparatus for proximal detection of energetic materials on people, was developed and tested for the first time. All the optical and optoelectronics components of the apparatus, as well as their optical matching, were carefully chosen and designed to respect international eye-safety regulations. In this way, the apparatus is suitable for civil applications on people in public areas such as airports and metro or railway stations.

A new eye-safe UV Raman spectrometer for the remote detection of energetic materials in fingerprint concentrations: Characterization by PCA and ROC analyzes.

We report the results of proximal Raman investigations at a distance of 7 m, to detect traces of explosives (from 0.1 to 0.8 mg/cm(2)) on common clothes with a new eye-safe apparatus.

Photo-induced gratings in thin color center layers on lithium fluoride.

We study the recording of permanent Bragg gratings on surface-colored lithium fluoride (LiF) crystals by using the interference pattern of a continuous-wave UV argon-ion laser operating at 244 nm. Gratings with spatial periodicity ranging from 400 to 1000 nm are written by using a phase-mask interferometer and are stable for several months after the writing process. Absorption and photoluminescence spectra show the bleaching of primary F and F -aggregate laser-active color centers as a result of the process.

X-ray microscopy of plant cells by using LiF crystal as a detector.

A lithium fluoride (LiF) crystal has been utilized as a new soft X-ray detector to image different biological samples at a high spatial resolution. This new type of image detector for X-ray microscopy has many interesting properties: high resolution (nanometer scale), permanent storage of images, the ability to clear the image and reuse the LiF crystal, and high contrast with greater dynamic range. Cells of the unicellular green algae Chlamydomonas dysosmos and Chlorella sorokiniana, and pollen grains of Olea europea have been used as biological materials for imaging.