A Compact LIF Spectrometer for in-Field Operation in Polar Environments

We present a compact laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrometer prototype (SFIDA–405) designed for in-field operation in polar environments. It uses 405 nm excitation to acquire LIF spectra in the 450–930 nm spectral range on a solid surface via an optical-fiber coupled measurement head. The prot...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sensors
Main Authors: Lorenzo Palombi, Valentina Raimondi
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021
Subjects:
spectrometer
laser-induced fluorescence
polar environment
biological soil crusts
microorganisms
Chemical technology
TP1-1185
Antarctic
Arctic
Svalbard
Victoria Land
Antarc*
Antarctica
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3390/s21051729
https://doaj.org/article/e8e2725ddf2d412bb1de5efe81556a1f
Description
Summary:We present a compact laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrometer prototype (SFIDA–405) designed for in-field operation in polar environments. It uses 405 nm excitation to acquire LIF spectra in the 450–930 nm spectral range on a solid surface via an optical-fiber coupled measurement head. The prototype (battery powered; module + measurement head weight: <1.6 kg) is controlled via a military-grade smartphone and has a limit of detection for chlorophyll better than 5 ng/cm 2 . The instrument was successfully tested during two summer field campaigns in the Arctic (Svalbard Islands) and Antarctic (Southern Victoria Land) regions for studying biological soil crusts. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this represents the first LIF spectrometer used in situ in Antarctica to acquire LIF spectra directly on biological soil crusts. Finally, the paper also suggests the use of the SFIDA–405 prototype for different application fields.

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