Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting a surface status. The method includes generating first and second pulse sequences and irradiating the first and second pulse sequences into a given surface. Light from the first and second pulses may be scattered by the given surface and analyzed to determine the status of the given surface. The apparatus includes a device for generating pulses which contact a given surface at different incident angles. The light scattered from the pulses may be analyzed at a determining part to determine a status of the given surface. In another embodiment, the method includes generating first and second pulse sequences and adjusting a path of at least a portion of at least one of the first and second pulse sequences such that the first and second pulse sequences are incident upon a given surface at different incident angles.