Development of Standoff Deep UV Resonance Raman Instrument for Trace Explosives Detection
Abstract
We will definitively demonstrate the practicality of using UV resonance Raman spectroscopy (UVRR) for standoff trace explosives det"ection by fabricating a prototype of arastering UVRR instrument, and of a revolutionary widefield imaging UVRR instrument that will" be used to perform an Advanced Feasibility Demonstration (AFD) to definitively establish the practicality for 5 m UVRR standoff tra"ce explosives detection with < 0.1 ~g/cm2 detection limits on aluminum, glass surfaces and on painted automobile panels in < 1 min."We will develop standoff deep UV Raman instruments by further engineering and increasing our proven standoff UVRR instrument sensitivities. Our program will: (1) increase our UVRR instrument sensitivity by increasing our instrument~s telescope light gathering power. (2) dramatically further miniaturize and ruggedize the performance of the deep UV 213 and 228 nmlasers we recently developed. (3) demonstrate the utility of this 213 nm laser as a deep UV excitation source for a rastering portable deep UV Raman instrument that utilizes lightweightoptimized optics and gratings such as transmission quartz micro-gratings. (4) develop the ruggedized solid photonic crystals required to construct an ultrahigh performance imaging UVRRinstrument. (5) use the 228 nm laser to construct a revolutionary imaging UVRR instrument for fast standoff trace explosives detection of distant surfaces based upon our previously demonstr"ated ~228 nm excited narrow wavelength deep UV photonic crystals. Further, we will: (6) develop robust analysis software to enable a""utomated threat detection, and will expand our detection libraries to include a variety of substrates and formulated explosive mater"ials (e.g. RDX in the composition C-4). We will also directly characterize likely environmental interferents. This program will culminate in an AFD using UVRR instrument prototypes that (7) demonstrate detection of trace quantities of formulated explosives (<0.1 ~"g/cm2), and (8)demonstrates detection of explosives in real world samples (i.e. with commonly encounteredinterferents), and (9) de"tects explosives on realistic substrates (i.e. painted car panels).Theperformance of these standoff deep UVRR instruments against e"stablished metrics will be verifiedby IHEODTD personnel, offering ONR an objective means of justifying (or terminating) followonpr"ototyping efforts. We will collaborate with NAVEOD to test and verify the performance ofthese instruments in real world situations.We will then (10) transition this technology to an experienced manufacturer/vendor. Wewill hire a technology consulting firm to help us develop a detailed commercialization plan toenable ONR to purchase these standoff UVRR instruments for trace explosives detec"tion
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Dec 20, 2017
- Source ID
- N000141812072
Entities
People
- Sanford A Asher
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Pittsburgh