title: Stand-off identification of aerosols using mid-infrared backscattering Fourier-transform spectroscopy.
abstract: We show that it is possible to identify the chemical composition of an aerosol by using Fourier-transform spectroscopy of backscattered mid-infrared light at a range of 0.2 m. An ultrafast mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator provides the illumination source for the measurement across a wavelength range from 3.2-3.55 μm containing characteristic optical absorption features for two different chemicals. Normalized detection sensitivity below 10  ppm m-1Hz-1/2is obtained.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maidment
authors.forename: Zhaowei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Howle
authors.forename: Derryck T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Reid