Handheld Highly Sensitive Explosives, Chemical Agent, and Radiation Detector

To address the Army need for a reliable, handheld, sensing device that can simultaneously detect and localize explosives, chemical agents, and radiological material, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new ultrasensitive handheld Explosives, Chemical Agent, and Radiation (ECAR) detector. This proposed device incorporates a sensor for gamma radiation as well as a sensor for explosives and chemical warfare agents based on the high affinity of explosives and chemical agents to low electron energy. The latter sensor discriminates among interferents and generates negative ion signatures of explosives and nerve agents, which are then identified by mass spectrometry. The device will offer real-time and simultaneous detection of all three types of threats with no sample preparation, and will have a sensitivity of at least parts-per-quadrillion (ppq). The compactness and ruggedness of the ECAR device make it suitable for field use without extra equipment. In Phase I POC will demonstrate ECAR feasibility by designing and fabricating a working ECAR prototype system and testing its capability to simultaneously detect explosives, nerve agent simulants, and radiological material. In Phase II POC will further optimize ECAR and develop a handheld unit that will be tested in real-world scenarios.