Compact, Wide Field Photoacoustic Explosive Detection

OPTRA proposes the development of an explosive detector comprised of a Risley scanner and a standoff photoacoustic detector for robot-based mobile operation. During the Phase I, OPTRA will be focused on developing demonstration hardware and collecting spectra of explosives samples to demonstrate feasibility. The Risley scanner is a mature technology, which uses a pair of matched prisms to steer a laser beam anywhere inside a cone. OPTRA has extensive experience developing and customizing such Risley scanners to accommodate a variety of applications including infrared countermeasures, optical avoidance and optical communication. The standoff photoacoustic explosive detection hardware concept was developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratories (ORNL) and utilizes a Quartz Crystal Tuning Fork (QCTF) to detect reflected returns from the target. Using this technology, ORNL has demonstrated the ability to not only detect explosive concentrations as low as 100 ng/cm2 at a range of 20 m, but also to distinguish between various explosives. By coupling these two demonstrated technologies, OPTRA should be able to rapidly demonstrate and prototype a compact, wide field, highly sensitive explosive detector capable of monitoring large areas from a safe distance, which should help neutralize the IED threat in the near term.