Abstract

The feasibility of a new underwater remote sensing system that uses a laser-excited system directly to detect the presence of oil in water has been evaluated. The system takes advantage of oil's well-defined spectral signature by using the light output from a laser to make oil fluoresce. This fluorescence signal is then detected by an optical receiver which determines the relative amount of oil present, while a navigation system pinpoints the location of the oil in the water.

© 1986 Optical Society of America