Portable Low Temperature Plasma Miniature Mass Spectrometer (LTP Mini-MS)
Abstract
This project developed a hand-portable mass spectrometer device for the detection of explosives, chemical weapons agents, illegal drugs, gunshot residues, and other toxic and hazardous chemical compounds. This significant reduction in size enables the warfighter to conduct chemical forensic analysis on site, and eliminates lengthy delays and costs from transporting samples back to laboratories. Of note, this project was formally known as Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometer (DESI) but was changed due to improvements in the technical approach. This effort delivered four miniature mass spectrometer systems and provided documentation and performance information. The primary output of this effort is a system that enables operators the ability to quickly determine whether suspect chemicals are derogatory or not and take appropriate actions. Such actions could include performing tactical questioning of the person in possession of the derogatory chemicals, in order to gain sufficient tactical information to conduct follow-on military actions against other members of the same network.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2013
- Source ID
- 3d9b80274c5e283a548d4cfa69b18748