title: Standoff detection of large organic molecules using Rydberg fingerprint spectroscopy and microwave Rayleigh scattering.
abstract: We present a technique for nonintrusive and standoff detection of large organic molecules using coherent microwave Rayleigh scattering from plasma produced by structure sensitive photoionization through Rydberg states. We test the method on 1,4-diazobicyclooctane. Transitions between the 3s Rydberg state and higher lying Rydberg states are probed using two-color photoionization with 266 nm photons and photons in the range of 460-2400 nm. Photoionization is detected using microwave radiation, which is scattered by the unbounded electrons. Highly resolved Rydberg spectra are acquired in vacuum and in air.
authors.affiliation: Computer Science and Mathematics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA. rudakovfm@ornl.gov
authors.forename: Fedor
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rudakov
authors.forename: Zhili
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang