Quantum cascade laser based standoff photoacoustic detection of explosives using ultra-sensitive microphone and sound reflector

Xing Chen; Dingkai Guo; Fow-Sen Choa; Chen-Chia Wang; Sudhir Trivedi; Jenyu Fan

doi:10.1117/12.2005695

4 February 2013 Quantum cascade laser based standoff photoacoustic detection of explosives using ultra-sensitive microphone and sound reflector

Xing Chen, Dingkai Guo, Fow-Sen Choa, Chen-Chia Wang, Sudhir Trivedi, Jenyu Fan

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8631, Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices X; 86312H (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2005695
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2013, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We report standoff detection of explosives using quantum cascade laser (QCL) and photoacoustic technique. In our experiment, a QCL with emission wavelength near 7.35 μm was used and operated at pulsed mode. The output light was focused on Trinitrotoluene (TNT) sample in its powder form. Photoacoustic signals were generated and detected by an ultra-sensitive low-noise microphone with one inch diameter. A detection distance up to 8 inches was obtained using the microphone alone. With the increasing detection distance the measured photoacoustic signal not only decayed in amplitude but also delayed in phase, which clearly verified the source location. To further increase the detection distance, a parabolic sound reflector was used for effective sound collection. With the help of the sound reflector, standoff photoacoustic detection of TNT with distance of 8 feet was demonstrated.

Citation Download Citation

Xing Chen, Dingkai Guo, Fow-Sen Choa, Chen-Chia Wang, Sudhir Trivedi, and Jenyu Fan "Quantum cascade laser based standoff photoacoustic detection of explosives using ultra-sensitive microphone and sound reflector ", Proc. SPIE 8631, Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices X, 86312H (4 February 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2005695

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