Noncontact detection of homemade explosive constituents via photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence.
Noncontact detection of the homemade explosive constituents urea nitrate, nitromethane and ammonium nitrate is achieved using photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence (PD-LIF). Our technique utilizes a single ultraviolet laser pulse (approximately 7 ns) to vaporize and photodissociate the condensed-phase materials, and then to detect the resulting vibrationally-excited NO fragments via laser-induced fluorescence. PD-LIF excitation and emission spectra indicate the creation of NO in vibrationally-excited states with significant rotational energy, useful for low-background detection of the parent compound. The results for homemade explosives are compared to one another and 2,6-dinitrotoluene, a component present in many military explosives.
Wynn
C M
CM
Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 244 Wood Street, Lexington, MA 02420, USA. cwynn@ll.mit.edu
Palmacci
S
S
Kunz
R R
RR
Rothschild
M
M
D053834:Explosive Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D007834:Lasers; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*
D053834:Explosive Agents