A multi-line tunable laser system, which uses lasers as light sources to
illuminate, identify and or quantify one or more targets based on
multi-dimensional spectral characteristics of each target. The system
includes a plurality of laser sources, each tunable to emit an
electromagnetic wave, and at least one tuning controller for tuning and
locking each beam of light to a wavelength of required spectral
line-width. The system also includes a transmitter for transmitting each
beam of light to illuminate one or more targets, and a receiver for
receiving light returning from the targets and converting the returned
light to electrical signals for identifying and or quantifying the
targets. The system further includes N tunable lasers where, M of the N
lasers are each tuned to a wavelength that is partially absorbed by the
targets, and L of the N (one or more) of the lasers are each tuned to a
wavelength that is absorption-free of the targets.