The aim of the project COvariance Based RAman Spectroscopy (COBRAS) was to assess the general applicability of covariance based methods to Raman spectroscopy. In order to assess to what extend the method is applicable and its economical profitability, we developed a prototype for a high speed, high repetition rate parallelized multichannel detector capable of acquiring simultaneously the signal of 512 diodes 50000 times per second with 16 bit dynamical range.
The prototype detector developed includes the electronic architecture for the acquisition and a hardware for handling the large amount of data produced by such a detector (≈500Mbyte per sec). The data management system including a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) for hardware data processing was built and commissioned. Hardware and software for efficient data transfer was developed.
Using the detector developed we built and commissioned a multichannel spectrometer and started the tests for assessing the viability of covariance based method.
The commissioning of the detector has been finished and the tests for determining the general applicability of covariance based methods to Raman and other spectroscopies are ongoing.
Following the success of this prototype development and considering the potential of the project, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste has decided to support the test of covariance based Raman method with internal resources for finishing the tests proposed.
