INVESTIGATION OF THE FEASIBILITY OF USE OF LASER OPTOACOUSTIC DETECTION FOR THE DETECTION OF EXPLOSIVES FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 32109
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 86 pages
• Grant Number(s): 44343-V
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-025-73
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Aerospace Corporation; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Case Western Reserve University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

OPTOACOUSTIC DETECTION METHODS WERE USED ON SAMPLES OF NITROGLYCERINE, ETHYLENE GLYCOL DINITRATE, DINITROTOLUENE (DNT), AND A TAGGANT (SODIUM FLOURIDE), AND WERE FOUND EFFECTIVE AT CERTAIN WAVELENGTHS.

Abstract

OPTOACOUSTIC DETECTION INVOLVES THE FOCUSING OF RADIATION INTO A VAPOR, THE CONSEQUENT HEATING OF THE VAPOR, AND A MEASUREMENT OF THE RESULTANT PRESSURE WAVE WITH A SENSITIVE MICROPHONE. RADIATION WAVELENGTHS (THE RADIATION IS GENERATED BY A LASER) ARE GIVEN THAT ARE NOT NORMALLY AFFECTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFERENCE. THE AUTHORS STATE THAT THE ACCURACY AND TRANSPORTABILITY OF THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED MAKE IT IDEAL FOR EXPLOSIVES DETECTION APPLICATIONS.