Producing Known Quantities Of RDX for LIBS Limit of Detection Study

Abstract

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is an optical elemental analysis technique that has shown promise for detecting trace amounts of explosive residue. The need to quantify the detection limits for explosives using LIBS is an important step for determining the effectiveness of the LIBS technique, and requires the ability to produce known amounts of explosives reproducibly. To that end, we have employed an inkjet printing system to produce samples with a range of known amounts of trace explosives (sub 100 nanograms.) The detection limits were determined based on the relationship between the LIBS spectral data and the mass of the explosive. Based on this proof of principle study, preliminary detection limit results were found to be ~1.5 and ~0.1 ng for two different laser energies using this particular experimental configuration.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA562865

Entities

People

  • Frank C. De Lucia Jr.

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter IED
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Charge Coupled Devices
  • Detection
  • Detectors
  • Digital Images
  • Elements
  • Emission
  • Explosive Devices
  • Explosives
  • High Resolution
  • Improvised Explosive Devices
  • Laser Pulses
  • Materials
  • Military Research
  • Rdx
  • Spectra
  • Spectroscopy
  • Standards

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Aerosol Science/Aerosol Physics
  • Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy