Using portable Raman spectrometers for the identification of organic compounds at low temperatures and high altitudes: exobiological applications
2010
Abstract
Here, we present the results of the evaluation of a portable hand-held Raman spectrometer to detect organic compounds outdoors under field conditions. These measurements were carried out during the February-March 2009 winter period in Austrian Alpine sites at temperatures ranging between -5 and -25 degrees C.
The results obtained demonstrate that a miniaturized Raman spectrometer equipped with 785 nm excitation could be applied with advantage as a key instrument for investigating the presence of organic minerals, organic acids and nitrogen-containing organic compounds outdoors under terrestrial low-temperature conditions.