Comparison of Line-Focused and Point-Focused Raman Mineral Analysis in Planetary Exploration

Raman spectroscopy plays a critical role in planetary exploration by providing detailed analysis of mineralogical and chemical compositions. However, the conventional point-focused Raman systems, while precise, are limited by their time-consuming nature, which hampers efficiency in space missions. This study compares a line-focused Raman spectroscopy system equipped with a cylindrical mirror array to a traditional point-focused system by testing various lunar-analogue minerals. The results demonstrate that the line-focused mode significantly reduces mineral detection time while covering larger sample surface areas, albeit with a slightly higher detection limit compared to the point-focused mode. Both modes exhibit similar capabilities in mineral identification and compositional analysis, with the line-focused system offering a more practical solution for rapid, high-throughput analysis in large-scale planetary geological surveys. These findings suggest that the line-focused Raman system could be a valuable tool in accelerating geochemical data collection during future deep space exploration missions.