Remote Detection of Explosives by Enhanced Pulsed Laser Photodissociation/Laser-Induced Fluorescence Method

A unique scheme for remote detection of explosives has been demonstrated. High detection sensitivity was achieved by an exclusive combination of two processes: Explosive vapor detection by PLP/LIF (pulsed laser photodissociation/laser-induced fluorescence) with vapor concentration enhancement by remote evaporation. The basic PLP/LIF method was demonstrated on TNT in the vapor phase with a detection sensitivity higher than 1 ppb m. Remote vapor enhancement improves detection capability by about three orders of magnitude enabling remote detection of explosives with extremely low vapor pressures. Remote detection of RDX, PETN and C4 from several meters is presented. Updated experimental results and calculations show that the enhanced PLP/LIF method is a promising tool for detection distances of up to ten’s of meters.