Standoff Detection of Highly Energetic Materials Using Laser-Induced Thermal Excitation of Infrared Emission

A laser-mediated methodology for standoff infrared detection of threat chemicals is described in this article. Laser-induced thermal emissions (LITE) from vibrationally excited residue of highly energetic material (HEM) deposited on substrates were detected remotely. Telescope-based Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy measurements were carried out on substrates containing small amounts of HEM at surface concentrations of 5–200 μg/cm2. Target substrates of various thicknesses were heated remotely using a carbon dioxide laser, and their mid-infrared (mid-IR), thermally stimulated emission spectra were recorded after heating. The telescope was configured from reflective optical elements to minimize emission losses in the mid-IR frequencies. Spectral replicas were acquired at distances from 4 to 64 m using an FT-IR interferometer at 4 cm−1 resolution. The laser power, laser exposure times, and acquisition time of the FT-IR interferometer were adjusted to improve the detection and identification of samples. The advantages of increasing the thermal emission were easily observed in the results. The signal intensities were proportional to the thickness of the coated surface (a function of the surface concentration) as well as the laser power and laser exposure time. The limits of detection obtained for the HEM studied were 140–21 μg/cm2 at 4 m. Detection was achieved at 64 m for a surface concentration of 200 μg/cm2.