Open-Path Optical Analyzer for Quantitative Chemical Weapons Detection

Existing U.S. military chemical point sensors such as the JCAD can only provide qualitative detection/ identification results for CWAs and TICs. MESH is proposing to develop a low cost, active FTIR system with a variable optical path within a short open external distance from the sensor. This system will be capable of multicomponent analysis including chemical identification and quantification. Low cost approaches for the detector, IR source, moving mirror mechanism, optics, and signal processing electronics are integral to the proposed design. The feasibility of the approach will be demonstrated through M&S and in a detector/IR source measurement experiment. The MESH team has extensive experience in designing, modeling, and developing IR chemical sensor systems and this experience will inform the proposed effort.