title: Fiber-optic laser sensor for mine detection and verification.
abstract: What we believe to be a new optical approach for the identification of mines and explosives by analyzing the surface materials and not only bulk is developed. A conventional manually operated mine prodder is upgraded by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). In situ and real-time information of materials that are in front of the prodder are obtained during the demining process in order to optimize the security aspects and the speed of demining. A Cr4+:Nd3+:YAG microchip laser is used as a seed laser for an ytterbium-fiber amplifier to generate high-power laser pulses at 1064 nm with pulse powers up to E(p) = 1 mJ, a repetition rate of f(rep.) = 2-20 kHz and a pulse duration of t(p) = 620 ps. The recorded LIBS signals are analyzed by applying neural networks for the data analysis.
authors.affiliation: Institüt für Physik und Physikalische Technologien, Technische Universität Clausthal, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany. christian.bohling@tu-clausthal.de
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bohling
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scheel
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hohmann
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schade
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holl