Eye-Safe Laser-Induced-Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for Standoff Explosive Detection

The rapid and selective detection of explosives is extremely important in a number of situations, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs), landmines, airport security, and related threats. A large number of detection techniques, both bulk methods and molecule-based approaches, have been applied to the sensing of explosives. The detection and identification of trace amounts of explosive materials at a standoff distance presents significant challenges. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has emerged as a powerful technique for the detection of materials on surfaces. However, most current LIBS studies employ Nd:YAG fundamental laser radiation. The eye-damage threshold at this wavelength is very low. It is desirable to employ a laser at a safer wavelength for explosive detection. In this proposal, Intelligent Automation, Inc. (IAI) proposes to develop eye-safe LIBS for standoff explosive detection. We envision that the proposed eye-safe LIBS system could have a significant impact in many applications such as the remote sensing of the improvison explosive device (IED) in the battle field, biological and chemical agent dection in countering terrorism, and hazardous material identification in envioriemnt protection. IAI is well positioned to introduce this new technology into a wide variety of military and commercial applications.