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Laser-Based Detection of Explosives and Related Compounds

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Detection of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Agents for the Prevention of Terrorism

Abstract

Laser-based spectroscopic methods offer the possibility of detecting compounds of interest with high sensitivity, in real time, without or with minimal sample preparation and therefore have a potential to be readily transferred for use in the field. A variety of methods, including laser photolysis/laser-induced fluorescence, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, as well as vibrational spectroscopies: Raman and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, have been studied and tested over the years for explosives detection. The fundamentals and preferred applications of these methods for standoff and point detection of traces or bulk compounds in the gas and condensed phases are discussed, pointing to their advantages and drawbacks with the hope that recent progress will bring them closer to find their niche.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support from NATO Science for Peace (SfP) Project 983789, the Technion – The Institute for Future Security Research, the Israel Science Foundation founded by The Israel Academy of Science and Humanities and the James Franck Binational German-Israeli Program in Laser-Matter Interaction is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, 84105, Israel

    Itamar Malka, Salman Rosenwaks & Ilana Bar

Authors
  1. Itamar Malka
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  2. Salman Rosenwaks
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  3. Ilana Bar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ilana Bar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science Branch, Special Projects and Memorial University of New Foundland, St. John's, Canada

    Joseph Banoub

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Malka, I., Rosenwaks, S., Bar, I. (2014). Laser-Based Detection of Explosives and Related Compounds. In: Banoub, J. (eds) Detection of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Agents for the Prevention of Terrorism. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9238-7_12

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