Apparatus and method for reducing interference in an optical spectroscopy probe having a collimated sample beam

Various embodiments are provided herein for an optical spectroscopy probe which generally includes a probe head having optical elements for coupling to an excitation fiber for receiving laser energy therefrom and generating a collimated excitation light beam; and a sample optic adjacent to the probe head, the sample optic having at least one optical element with two non-parallel surfaces to receive the collimated excitation light beam, to transmit the collimated excitation light beam to a sample, and to collect at least one afocal returning scattered light beam that is reflected from the sample.