Detection of trace explosives on relevant substrates using a mobile platform for photothermal infrared imaging spectroscopy (PT-IRIS)

Christopher A. Kendziora; Robert Furstenberg; Michael Papantonakis; Viet Nguyen; Jeff Byers; R. Andrew McGill

doi:10.1117/12.2177255

22 May 2015 Detection of trace explosives on relevant substrates using a mobile platform for photothermal infrared imaging spectroscopy (PT-IRIS)

Christopher A. Kendziora, Robert Furstenberg, Michael Papantonakis, Viet Nguyen, Jeff Byers, R. Andrew McGill

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9467, Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications VII; 94672R (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2177255
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2015, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

This manuscript describes the results of recent tests regarding standoff detection of trace explosives on relevant substrates using a mobile platform. We are developing a technology for detection based on photo-thermal infrared (IR) imaging spectroscopy (PT-IRIS). This approach leverages one or more microfabricated IR quantum cascade lasers, tuned to strong absorption bands in the analytes and directed to illuminate an area on a surface of interest. An IR focal plane array is used to image the surface thermal emission upon laser illumination. The PT-IRIS signal is processed as a hyperspectral image cube comprised of spatial, spectral and temporal dimensions as vectors within a detection algorithm. Increased sensitivity to explosives and selectivity between different analyte types is achieved by narrow bandpass IR filters in the collection path. We have previously demonstrated the technique at several meters of stand-off distance indoors and in field tests, while operating the lasers below the infrared eye-safe intensity limit (100 mW/cm²). Sensitivity to explosive traces as small as a single 10 μm diameter particle (~1 ng) has been demonstrated. Analytes tested here include RDX, TNT, ammonium nitrate and sucrose. The substrates tested in this current work include metal, plastics, glass and painted car panels.

Citation Download Citation

Christopher A. Kendziora, Robert Furstenberg, Michael Papantonakis, Viet Nguyen, Jeff Byers, and R. Andrew McGill "Detection of trace explosives on relevant substrates using a mobile platform for photothermal infrared imaging spectroscopy (PT-IRIS)", Proc. SPIE 9467, Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications VII, 94672R (22 May 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2177255

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