ALERT | Awareness and Localization of Explosive-Related Threats

Remote Raman and Infrared Detection of Explosives and Other Threat Agents
F2-F

Download the 2012 Project Report

The objective of the ALERT F2-F component is to develop Remote Vibrational Spectros­copy in spectral and hyperspectral detection of highly energetic materials (HEM) and homemade ex­plosives (HME). The expected outcome of the project is to significantly improve the current state of development of vibrational standoff (SO) detection of HEM/HME in terms of range (target-observer distance), detection limits, discrimination capabilities and quantification studies of HEM/HME from interferents (background and matrices). During Year 4, significant improvements in the development of our remote Raman system resulted in measurements of 4-component mixtures (28 mixes) able to perform quantification studies of HEM in complex matrices at 10m. Low limits of detection studies are in progress by designing experiments in Chemometrics to perform the studies. Remote sensing based on infrared technologies was also developed further. A commercial system was modified by re­placing its source by a carborundum heater and the mid-IR (MIR) telescopes originally designed for atmospheric sensing have been replaced by ZnSe transmission lenses that focus the source beam on the target with significant area of interrogation (not point sensing) and high energy density. In addi­tion, other excitation sources are currently being explored.