Measurement of the absolute Raman scattering cross sections of sulfur and the standoff Raman detection of a 6-mm-thick sulfur specimen at 1500 m

The absolute Raman scattering cross sections (sigma(RS)) for the 471, 217, and 153 cm(-1) modes of sulfur were measured as 6.0 +/- 1.2 x 10(-27), 7.7 +/- 1.6 x 10(-27), and 1.2 +/- 0.24 x 10(-26) cm(2) at 815, 799, and 794 nm, respectively, using a 785-nm pump laser. The corresponding values of sigma(RS) at 1120, 1089, and 1081 nm were determined to be 1.5 +/- 0.3 x 10(-27), 1.2 +/- 0.24 x 10(-27), and 1.2 +/- 0.24 x 10(-27) cm(2) using a 1064-nm laser. A temperature-controlled, small-cavity (2.125 mm diameter) blackbody source was used to calibrate the signal output of the Raman spectrometers for these measurements. Standoff Raman detection of a 6-mm-thick sulfur specimen located at 1500 m from the pump laser and the Raman spectrometer was made using a 1.4-W, CW, 785-nm pump laser. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.