US EPA

3982791 

Journal Article 

Standoff Photoacoustic Spectroscopy of Explosives 

Marcus, LS; Holthoff, EL; Pellegrino, PM 

2017 

Yes 

Applied Spectroscopy
ISSN: 0003-7028 

SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC 

THOUSAND OAKS 

71 

5 

833-838 

English 

27340220 

10.1177/0003702816654168 

WOS:000400599600006 

Detection and identification of unknown and possibly hazardous materials is a vital area of research to which infrared (IR) spectroscopy is ideally suited. Infrared absorption spectra can be measured with many sensing paradigms of which photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) is a sensitive and flexible variant. The flexibility of PAS allows for the construction of narrowly tailored spectroscopic sensors that are designed for specific tasks. We discuss the evaluation of an interferometric PAS sensor by the measurement of common explosive hazards from a standoff distance of 1 m. Reproduction of IR absorption spectra for 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) demonstrate the capabilities of the interferometric sensor for standoff explosives detection. 

explosives detection; laser doppler vibrometer; Photoacoustic spectroscopy; quantum cascade laser; standoff detection