DETECTION OF EXPLOSIVES BY NUCLEAR QUADRUPOLE RESONANCE

A system and method for detecting a class explosives and narcotics containing ni trogen in a specimen (1) by nuclear quadrupole resonance which improves the selectivity, sensitivity and spatial loc alization over conventional detection systems. As a result, sub-kilogram quantities of explosives and narcotics against a backgrou nd of more benign materials may be detected by the nuclear quadrupole resonance system and method. Also, by the use of a meande rline surface coil (10), the electrical and magnetic fields will fall off rapidly over a short distance so that a localized region may be scanned and people may be scanned without depositing substantial RF power into the body. Furthermore, by using a s trong off-resonance comb (SORC) irradiation sequence, the signal-to-noise ratio of the detected signal is improved for obtai ning a more accurate detection signal from the specimen.