Open AccessNoncontact optical detection of explosive particles via photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence
Author(s) -
Charles M. Wynn,
Stephen T. Palmacci,
Roderick R. Kunz,
Matthew J. Aernecke
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.19.018671
Subject(s) - explosive material , materials science , photodissociation , fluorescence , optics , laser induced fluorescence , trinitrotoluene , laser , stray light , explosive detection , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , photochemistry , physics , organic chemistry , chromatography
High-sensitivity (ng/cm²) optical detection of the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is demonstrated using photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence (PD-LIF). Detection occurs rapidly, within 6 laser pulses (~7 ns each) at a range of 15 cm. Dropcasting is used to create calibrated samples covering a wide range of TNT concentrations; and a correspondence between fractional area covered by TNT and PD-LIF signal strength is observed. Dropcast data are compared to that of an actual fingerprint. These results demonstrate that PD-LIF could be a viable means of rapidly and remotely scanning surfaces for trace explosive residues.