This PDF file contains the front matter associated with SPIE Proceedings Volume 9824, including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction (if any), and Conference Committee listing.

Integrated photonics affords an opportunity to explore novel sensing and lab-on-a-chip concepts. It offers a route to high sensitivity, high selectivity, and low SWaP-C test systems that can be operated autonomously or by minimallytrained field personnel. We'll introduce the topic, discuss possible sensing modalities, and highlight the advantages and limitations of this technology. We'll also introduce the recent American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics (AIM Photonics), give an overview of its vision and capabilities, how to utilize its Electronic-Photonic Design Automation (EPDA) tools and its Multi-Project Wafer and Assembly (MPWA) services, how to engage in its road mapping efforts, and how to become a contributing member.

A chip-scale biochemical sensor was developed using mid-Infrared (mid-IR) transparent silicon nitride (SiN) optical waveguides. The label free detection was conducted at λ = 2.70 - 2.81 μm because these spectral regions overlap with the characteristic glucose absorption associated with O-H stretches. Strong intensity attenuation at λ > 2.73 μm was found for the SiN waveguide covered by glucose and a detection limit less than 0.5 ng was experimentally demonstrated. The observed high sensitivity is attributed to a long mid-IR - glucose interaction length owning to the waveguide geometry and an increased sensing surface from the pedestal structure.

Highly evanescent nanophotonic waveguides enable extremely efficient Raman spectroscopy in chip-scale photonic integrated circuits due to the continuous excitation and collection of Raman scattering along the entire waveguide length. Such waveguides can be used for detection and identification of condensed-phase analytes, or, if functionalized by a sorbent as a top-cladding, can be used to detect trace concentrations of chemical species. The scattering efficiency is modified in guided-mode structures compared to unconfined, micro-Raman geometries. Here, we describe the theoretical framework for understanding the Raman scattering efficiency in nanophotonic waveguides, and compare these calculations to our measurements of trace gases in hypersorbent-clad silicon nitride waveguides.

The ability to accurately classify influenza viruses is critical to understanding patterns of infection, vaccine efficacy, and to the process of developing new vaccines. Unfortunately, this task is hampered both by the virus’ ability to undergo antigenic drift and shift (rendering it a “previously unknown” strain), and by technological limitations. In an effort to overcome these challenges, we have developed a label-free human monoclonal antibody array for flu serology, using a pattern recognition approach to assign virus serotype. The array is built on the Arrayed Imaging Reflectometry (AIR) platform. AIR relies on the creation of a near-perfect antireflective condition on the surface of a silicon chip. When this antireflective condition is perturbed because of binding to an antibody spot (or other immobilized probe molecule), binding may be sensitively and quantitatively detected as an increase in reflected light. We describe fabrication and characterization of the array, and preliminary testing with isolated influenza hemagglutinin. We anticipate that this approach may be extended to other viruses by expansion of the array.

Ghost imaging systems use down-conversion sources that produce twin output beams of position-correlated photons to produce an image of an object using photons that did not interact with the object. One of these beams illuminates the object and is detected by a single pixel detector while the image information is recovered from the second, spatially correlated, beam. We utilize this technique to obtain images of objects probed with 1.5μm photons whilst developing the image using a highly efficient, low-noise, photon-counting camera detecting the correlated photons at 460nm. The efficient transfer of the image information from infrared illumination to visible detection wavelengths and the ability to count single-photons allows the acquisition of an image while illuminating the object with an optical power density of only 100 pJ cm^-2 s^-1. We apply image reconstruction techniques based on compressive sensing to reconstruct our images from data sets containing far fewer photons than conventionally required. This wavelength-transforming ghost imaging technique has potential for the imaging of light-sensitive specimens or where covert operation is desired.

High sensitivity detection, identification and quantification of chemicals in a stand-off configuration is a highly sought after capability across the security and defense sector. Specific applications include assessing the presence of explosive related materials, poisonous or toxic chemical agents, and narcotics. Real world field deployment of an operational stand-off system is challenging due to stringent requirements: high detection sensitivity, stand-off ranges from centimeters to hundreds of meters, eye-safe invisible light, near real-time response and a wide chemical versatility encompassing both vapor and condensed phase chemicals. Additionally, field deployment requires a compact, rugged, power efficient, and cost-effective design. To address these demanding requirements, we have developed the concept of Active Coherent Laser Spectrometer (ACLaS), which can be also described as a middle infrared hyperspectral coherent lidar. Combined with robust spectral unmixing algorithms, inherited from retrievals of information from high-resolution spectral data generated by satellitebased spectrometers, ACLaS has been demonstrated to fulfil the above-mentioned needs. ACLaS prototypes have been so far developed using quantum cascade lasers (QCL) and interband cascade lasers (ICL) to exploit the fast frequency tuning capability of these solid state sources. Using distributed feedback (DFB) QCL, demonstration and performance analysis were carried out on narrow-band absorbing chemicals (N₂O, H₂O, H₂O₂, CH₄, C₂H₂ and C₂H₆) at stand-off distances up to 50 m using realistic non cooperative targets such as wood, painted metal, and bricks. Using more widely tunable external cavity QCL, ACLaS has also been demonstrated on broadband absorbing chemicals (dichloroethane, HFC134a, ethylene glycol dinitrate and 4-nitroacetanilide solid) and on complex samples mixing narrow-band and broadband absorbers together in a realistic atmospheric background.

We present initial results on the performance of a compressive sensing setup for Raman imaging spectroscopy for standoff trace explosives detection. Hyperspectral image reconstruction is demonstrated under low signal conditions and successful spatial separation of substances with close lying Raman peaks is shown.

Laser induced Raman scattering at excitation wavelengths in the middle ultraviolet was examined using a pulsed tunable laser based spectrometer system. Droplets of chemical warfare agents, with a volume of 2 μl, were placed on a silicon surface and irradiated with sequences of laser pulses. The Raman scattering from V-series nerve agents, Tabun (GA) and Mustard gas (HD) was studied with the aim of finding the optimum parameters and the requirements for a detection system. A particular emphasis was put on V-agents that have been previously shown to yield relatively weak Raman scattering in this excitation band.

Alakai Defense Systems has created two new short range UV Raman standoff explosive detection sensors. These are called the Critical Infrastructure Protection System (CIPS) and Portable Raman Improvised Explosive Detection System (PRIED) and work at standoff ranges of 10cm and 1-10m respectively. Both these systems are designed to detect neartrace quantities of explosives and Homemade Explosives. A short description of the instruments, design trades, and CONOPS of each design is presented. Data includes a wide variety of explosives, precursors, TIC/TIM’s, narcotics, and CWA simulants

There is a significant need for the development of optical diagnostics for rapid and accurate detection of chemical species in convoluted systems. In particular, chemical warfare agents and explosive materials are of interest, however, identification of these species is difficult for a wide variety of reasons. Low vapor pressures, for example, cause traditional Raman scattering to be ineffective due to the incredibly long signal collection times that are required. Multiplex Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (MCARS) spectroscopy generates a complete Raman spectrum from the material of interest using a combination of a broadband pulse which drives multiple molecular vibrations simultaneously and a narrow band probe pulse. For most species, the complete Raman spectrum can be detected in milliseconds; this makes MCARS an excellent technique for trace material detection in complex systems. In this paper, we present experimental MCARS results on solid state chemical species in complex systems. The 40fs Ti:Sapphire laser used in this study has sufficient output power to produce both the broadband continuum pulse and narrow band probe pulse simultaneously. A series of explosive materials of interest have been identified and compared with spontaneous Raman spectra, showing the specificity and stability of this system.

Spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) allows for sub-surface and through barrier detection and has applications in drug analysis, cancer detection, forensic science, as well as defense and security. This paper reviews previous efforts in SORS and other through barrier Raman techniques and presents a discussion on current research in defense and security applications.

The realization of global terrorism after the September 11 attacks led immediately to a need for rapid field analysis of materials. Colorimetric test kits existed, but they are very subjective to interpret and they require contact with the sample. A push for handheld spectrometers quickly led to FTIR systems with ATR sampling, handheld IMS systems, and handheld Raman spectrometers. No single technique solves all of the problems of field detection. We will discuss the development of Raman instrumentation and, in particular, cover the advantages and the problems that are inherent in Raman portability. Portable Raman instrumentation began with a limited number of accessories: a point-and-shoot and some sort of vial adaptor. Currently this has expanded to stand-off attachments for measurements at a distance, air sampling to look for toxic gasses or aerosols, Orbital Raster Scan (ORS) to spatially average over samples, SERS attachments for trace detection, and fiber optic probes.

A bottled liquid explosive scanner has been developed using near infrared technology for glass or PET bottles and ultrasound technology for metal cans. It has database of near infrared absorbance spectra and sound velocities of various liquids. Scanned liquids can be identified by using this database. This device has been certified by ECAC and installed at Japanese international airport.

The paper will review the feasibility of adapting the Modified Transient Plane Source (MTPS) method as a screening tool for early-detection of explosives and hazardous materials. Materials can be distinguished from others based on their inherent thermal properties (e.g. thermal effusivity) in testing through different types of barrier materials. A complimentary advantage to this technique relative to other traditional detection technologies is that it can penetrate reflective barrier materials, such as aluminum, easily. A strong proof-of-principle is presented on application of the MTPS transient thermal property measuring in the early-screening of liquid explosives. The work demonstrates a significant sensitivity to distinguishing a wide range of fluids based on their thermal properties through a barrier material. The work covers various complicating factors to the longer-term adoption of such a method including the impact of carbonization and viscosity. While some technical challenges remain, the technique offers significant advantages in complimenting existing detection methods in being able to penetrate reflective metal containers (e.g. aluminum soft drinkscans) with ease.

Infrared active stand-off detection techniques often employ high power tunable quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) for target illumination. Due to the distances involved, any fluctuation of the laser beam direction and/or beam profile is amplified at the sample position. If not accounted for, this leads to diminished performance (both sensitivity and selectivity) of the detection technique as a direct result of uncertainties in laser irradiance at each imaged pixel of the sample. This is especially true for detection approaches which illuminate a relatively small footprint at the target since the laser beam profile spatial fluctuations are often comparable to the (focused) laser spot size. Also, there is often a necessary trade-off between high output QCL power and beam quality. Therefore, precise characterization of the laser beam profile and direction as a function of laser properties (tuning wavelength, current and operating mode: pulsed or CW) is imperative. We present detailed measurements of beam profiles, beam wander and power fluctuations and their reproducibility as function of laser wavelength and stand-off distance for a commercially available tunable quantum cascade laser. We present strategies for improving beam quality by compensating for fluctuations using a motorized mirror and a pair of motorized lenses. We also investigate QCL mode hops and how they affect laser beam properties at the sample. Detailed mode-hop stability maps were measured.

Standoff detection of dangerous chemicals like explosives, nerve gases, and harmful aerosols has continuously been an important subject due to the serious concern about terrorist threats to both overseas and homeland lives and facility. Compared with other currently available standoff optical detection techniques, like Raman, photo-thermal, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy,...etc., photoacoustic (PA) sensing has the advantages of background free and very high detection sensitivity, no need of back reflection surfaces, and 1/R instead of 1/R² signal decay distance dependence. Furthermore, there is still a great room for PA sensitivity improvement by using different PA techniques, including lockin amplifier, employing new microphones, and microphone array techniques. Recently, we have demonstrated standoff PA detection of isopropanol vapor, solid phase TNT and RDX at a standoff distance. To further calibrate the detection sensitivity, we use nerve gas simulants that were generated and calibrated by a commercial vapor generator. For field operations, array of microphones and microphone-reflector pairs can be utilized to achieve noise rejection and signal enhancement. We have experimentally demonstrated signal enhancement and noise reduction using an array of 4 microphone/4 reflector system as well as an array of 16-microphone/1 reflector. In this work we will review and compare different standoff techniques and discuss the advantages of using different photoacoustic techniques. We will also discuss new advancement of using new types of microphone and the performance comparison of using different structure of microphone arrays and combining lock-in amplifier with acoustic arrays. Demonstration of out-door real-time operations with high power mid-IR laser and microphone array will be presented.

An array of nine 811 cm³ LaBr₃:Ce crystals coupled to photomultiplier tubes is used to detect γ rays induced from materials by neutrons emitted from a Deuterium-Tritium neutron generator. The accompanying digital data acquisition system has been developed to understand operational limits for remote detection of explosive contraband and analysis of material composition. Results are presented demonstrating current system performance, with the eventual goal of detecting a small (less than 5%) change in the composition of a material. Improvement expected over existing analog data collection systems are described along with discussion of the enhancements.

Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) is a useful technique that suitable for trace detection of chemicals and explosives. Normally a high-sensitive microphone or a quartz tuning fork is used to detect the signal in photoacoustic cell. In recent years, laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV) is proposed to remote-sense photoacoustic signal on various substrates. It is a high-sensitivity sensor with a displacement resolution of <10pm. In this research, the photoacoustic effect of various chemicals is excited by a quantum cascade laser (QCL) with a scanning wavelength range of 6.89μm to 8.5 μm. A home-developed LDV at 1550nm wavelength is applied to detect the vibration signal. After normalize the vibration amplitude with QCL power, the photoacoustic spectrum of various chemicals can be obtained. Different factors that affect the detection accuracy and sensitivity have also been discussed. The results show the potential of the proposed technique for standoff detection of trace chemicals and explosives.

Infrared hyperspectral imagers (HSI) have been fielded for the detection of hazardous chemical and biological compounds, tag detection (friend versus foe detection) and other defense critical sensing missions over the last two decades. Low Size/Weight/Power/Cost (SWaPc) methods of identification of chemical compounds spectroscopy has been a long term goal for hand held applications. We describe a new HSI concept for low cost / high performance InGaAs SWIR camera chemical identification for military, security, industrial and commercial end user applications. Multivariate Optical Elements (MOEs) are thin-film devices that encode a broadband, spectroscopic pattern allowing a simple broadband detector to generate a highly sensitive and specific detection for a target analyte. MOEs can be matched 1:1 to a discrete analyte or class prediction. Additionally, MOE filter sets are capable of sensing an orthogonal projection of the original sparse spectroscopic space enabling a small set of MOEs to discriminate a multitude of target analytes. This paper identifies algorithms and broadband optical filter designs that have been demonstrated to identify chemical compounds using high performance InGaAs VGA detectors. It shows how some of the initial models have been reduced to simple spectral designs and tested to produce positive identification of such chemicals. We also are developing pixilated MOE compressed detection sensors for the detection of a multitude of chemical targets in challenging backgrounds/environments for both commercial and defense/security applications. This MOE based, real-time HSI sensor will exhibit superior sensitivity and specificity as compared to currently fielded HSI systems.

Conventional laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) mostly uses silicon-based detectors and measures the atomic emission in the UV-Vis-NIR (UVN) region of the spectrum. It can be used to detect the elements in the sample under test, such as the presence of lead in the solder for electronics during RoHS compliance verification. This wavelength region, however, does not provide sufficient information on the bonding between the elements, because the molecular vibration modes emit at longer wavelength region. Measuring long-wave infrared spectrum (LWIR) in a LIBS setup can instead reveal molecular composition of the sample, which is the information sought in applications including chemical and explosive detection and identification. This paper will present the work and results from the collaboration of several institutions to develop the methods of LWIR LIBS for chemical/explosive/pharmaceutical material detection/identification, such as DMMP and RDX, as fast as using a single excitation laser pulse. In our latest LIBS setup, both UVN and LWIR spectra can be collected at the same time, allowing more accurate detection and identification of materials.

The Army is investigating several spectroscopic techniques (e.g., infrared spectroscopy) that could allow for an adaptable sensor platform. Current sensor technologies, although reasonably sized, are geared to more classical chemical threats, and the ability to expand their capabilities to a broader range of emerging threats is uncertain. Recently, photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), employed in a sensor format, has shown enormous potential to address these ever-changing threats. PAS is one of the more flexible IR spectroscopy variants, and that flexibility allows for the construction of sensors that are designed for specific tasks. PAS is well suited for trace detection of gaseous and condensed media. Recent research has employed quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) in combination with MEMS-scale photoacoustic cell designs. The continuous tuning capability of QCLs over a broad wavelength range in the mid-infrared spectral region greatly expands the number of compounds that can be identified. We will discuss our continuing evaluation of QCL technology as it matures in relation to our ultimate goal of a universal compact chemical sensor platform. Finally, expanding on our previously reported photoacoustic detection of condensed phase samples, we are investigating standoff photoacoustic chemical detection of these materials. We will discuss the evaluation of a PAS sensor that has been designed around increasing operator safety during detection and identification of explosive materials by performing sensing operations at a standoff distance. We investigate a standoff variant of PAS based upon an interferometric sensor by examining the characteristic absorption spectra of explosive hazards collected at 1 m.

A prototype LIBS system, measuring on single aerosol particles sampled from ambient air, has been developed for BWA detection purposes. To further discriminate measurement sampling, a 405 nm induced fluorescence trigger stage has recently been incorporated. The induced fluorescence, as well as the scattered light, was measured on monodisperse NADH and NaCl aerosols in the ~1-7 μm range as well as on dispersions of various simulant bioaerosols and interferents. Finally, the discrimination of sampling for LIBS measurements was demonstrated on NADH particulates in high non-fluorescent aerosol background.

The thermal hyperspectral sensor Hyper-Cam was mounted on a light aircraft and measured continuous releases of several atmospheric tracers from a height of 2 km. A unique detection algorithm that eliminates the need for clear background estimation was operated over the acquired data with excellent detection results. The data-cubes were acquired in a "target mode", which is a unique method of operation of the Hyper-Cam sensor. This method provides multiple views of the plume which can be exploited to enhance the detection performance. These encouraging results demonstrate the utility of airborne LWIR hyperspectral imaging for efficient detection and mapping of effluent gases for environmental monitoring.

In the recent past infrared laser backscattering spectroscopy using Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) emitting in the molecular fingerprint region between 7.5 μm and 10 μm proved a highly promising approach for stand-off detection of dangerous substances. In this work we present an active illumination hyperspectral image sensor, utilizing QCLs as spectral selective illumination sources. A high performance Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) imager is used for collection of the diffusely backscattered light. Well known target detection algorithms like the Adaptive Matched Subspace Detector and the Adaptive Coherent Estimator are used to detect pixel vectors in the recorded hyperspectral image that contain traces of explosive substances like PETN, RDX or TNT. In addition we present an extension of the backscattering spectroscopy technique towards real-time detection using a MOEMS EC-QCL.

Multiplex Coherent Anti Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (MCARS) has been shown to generate a complete Raman spectrum of a material on a millisecond time scale which allows for rapid identification of a wide variety of molecular targets. Along with the desired resonant spectrum due to the vibrational Raman spectroscopy of the analyte, MCARS is known to simultaneously generate a nonresonant spectrum that can obscure the desired Raman spectrum which hinders detection. Extracting the desired resonant Raman signal analytically from the overall MCARS signal has proven difficult without having prior knowledge of the analyte. We have developed an algorithm that utilizes a combination of the maximum entropy method in conjunction with advanced Fourier filtering to analytically remove the nonresonant background from our MCARS spectra without having prior knowledge of the vibrational spectrum of the analyte. In this report, we will report on the theoretical background for this algorithm as well as our experimental work testing this algorithm under various nonresonant spectra conditions for a number of analytes. We will systematically vary the amount of nonresonant background generated in the sample by changing the temporal overlap of the two beams necessary to generate the MCARS signal. Additionally, we place the analyte into increasing concentrations of water to generate increasing amounts of nonresonant background spectra to test the algorithm’s effectiveness. Finally, we compare the analyte vibrational spectral output from the algorithm to the Raman spectrum measured with the spontaneous Raman system in the laboratory of the same sample in an effort to ascertain accuracy of the output spectra.

Sensitive detection and rapid identification of hazardous bioorganic material with high sensitivity and specificity are essential topics for defense and security. A single method can hardly cover these requirements. While point sensors allow a highly specific identification, they only provide localized information and are comparatively slow. Laser based standoff systems allow almost real-time detection and classification of potentially hazardous material in a wide area and can provide information on how the aerosol may spread. The coupling of both methods may be a promising solution to optimize the acquisition and identification of hazardous substances. The capability of the outdoor LIF system at DLR Lampoldshausen test facility as an online classification tool has already been demonstrated. Here, we present promising data for further differentiation among bacteria. Bacteria species can express unique fluorescence spectra after excitation at 280 nm and 355 nm. Upon deactivation, the spectral features change depending on the deactivation method.

There is a significant need for the generation of highly stable continuum beams for a wide variety of optical diagnostic techniques. Of particular interest to this group are those techniques being used for chemical detection, such as Multiplex Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (MCARS), stimulated Raman scattering, two-photon absorption spectroscopy, and techniques involving ultrafast optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs). While photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) are popular and provide an ample method for continuum generation under very specific conditions, they are not particularly stable in unfavorable conditions and can exhibit energy fluctuations and lack of coherence. Bulk solid materials, commonly sapphire or YAG crystals, can provide incredibly broad and smooth spectra with better temporal and spatial coherence. In this study, we present an in-depth analysis of femtosecond continuum generation in sapphire and YAG crystals using a 40fs Ti:Sapphire laser. Beam size, pump pulse energy, beam profile, and a variety of focusing conditions are considered. In addition, an analysis of the thick lens theory required for collimation of the continuum beam has been conducted and experimentally verified.

Increasing threats of radiological weapons have revitalized the researches for low cost large volume γ-ray and neutron ray sensors In the past few years we have designed and grown ternary and quaternary lead and thallium chalcogenides and lead selenoiodides for detectors to meet these challenges. These materials are congruent, can be tailored to enhance the parameters required for radiation sensors. In addition, this class of compounds can be grown by Bridgman method which promises for large volume productions. We have single crystals of several compounds from the melt including Tl₃AsSe₃, Tl₃AsSe_3-xS_x, TlGaSe₂, AgGaGe₃Se₈, Ag_xLi_1-xAgGaGe₃Se₈ and PbTlI_5-x Se_x compounds. Experimental studies indicate that these have very low absorption coefficient, low defect density and can be fabricated in any shape and sizes. These crystals do not require post growth annealing and do not show any second phase precipitates when processed for electrode bonding and other fabrication steps. In this paper we report purification, growth and fabrication of large Tl₃AsSe₃ (TAS) crystals. We observed that TAS crystals grown by using further purification of as supplied high purity source materials followed by directionally solidified charge showed higher resistivity than previously reported values. TAS also showed constant value as the function of voltage.

Isotope power supplies offer long-lived (100 years using ⁶³Ni), low-power energy sources, enabling sensors or communications nodes for the lifetime of infrastructure. A tritium beta-source (12.5-year half-life) encapsulated in a phosphor-lined vial couples directly to a photovoltaic (PV) to generate a trickle current into an electrical load. An inexpensive design is described using commercial-of-the-shelf (COTS) components that generate 100 μW_e for nextgeneration compact electronics/sensors. A matched radiation sensor has been built for long-duration missions utilizing microprocessor-controlled sleep modes, low-power electronic components, and a passive interrupt driven environmental wake-up. The low-power early-warning radiation detector network and isotope power source enables no-maintenance mission lifetimes.

The development of high-efficiency solid state thermal neutron detectors at low cost is critical for a wide range of civilian and defense applications. The use of present neutron detector system for personal radiation detection is limited by the cost, size, weight and power requirements. Chip scale solid state neutron detectors based on silicon technology would provide significant benefits in terms of cost, volume, and allow for wafer level integration with charge preamplifiers and readout electronics. In this paper, anisotropic wet etching of (110) silicon wafers was used to replace deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) to produce microstructured neutron detectors with lower cost and compatibility with mass production. Deep trenches were etched by 30 wt% KOH at 85°C with a highest etch ratio of (110) to (111). A trench-microstructure thermal neutron detector described by the aforementioned processes was fabricated and characterized. The detector—which has a continuous p⁺-n junction diode—was filled with enriched boron (99% of ¹⁰B) as a neutron converter material. The device showed a leakage current of ~ 6.7 × 10^-6 A/cm² at -1V and thermal neutron detection efficiency of ~16.3%. The detector uses custom built charge pre-amplifier, a shaping amplifier, and an analogto- digital converter (ADC) for data acquisition.

The thorium fuel cycle is an alternative to the uranium fuel cycle in that when ²³²Th is irradiated with neutrons it is converted to ²³³U, another fissile isotope. There are several chemical forms of thorium which are used in the Th fuel cycle. Recently, Raman spectroscopy has become a very portable and facile analytical technique useful for many applications, including e.g. determining the chemical composition of different materials such as for thorium compounds. The technique continues to improve with the development of ever-more sensitive instrumentation and better software. Using a laboratory Fourier-transform (FT)-Raman spectrometer with a 785 nm wavelength laser, we were able to obtain Raman spectra from a series of thorium-bearing compounds of unknown origin. These spectra were compared to the spectra of in-stock-laboratory thorium compounds including e.g. ThO₂, ThF₄, Th(CO₃)₂ and Th(C₂O₄)₂. The unknown spectra showed very good agreement to the known standards, demonstrating the applicability of Raman spectroscopy for detection and identification of these nuclear materials.

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) systems can provide sensitive and specific detection and identification of high value targets in the presence of complex backgrounds. However, current generation sensors are typically large and costly to field, and do not usually operate in real-time. Sensors that are capable of real-time operation have to compromise on the number of spectral bands, image definition, and/or the number of targets being detected. Additionally, these systems command a high cost and are typically designed and configured for specific mission profiles, making them unable to adapt to multiple threats within often rapidly evolving and dynamic missions. Despite these shortcomings, HSI-based sensors have proven to be valuable tools, thus resulting in increased demand for HSI technology. A cost-effective sensor system that can easily and quickly adapt to accomplish significantly different tasks in a changing environment is highly desirable. The capability to detect and identify user-defined targets in complex backgrounds under a range of varying conditions with an easily reconfigured, automated, real-time, portable HSI sensor is a critical need. ChemImage Sensor Systems (CISS^TM) is developing a novel real-time, adaptable, compressive sensing short-wave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral imaging technology called the Reconfigurable Conformal Imaging Sensor (RCIS). RCIS will address many shortcomings of current generation systems and offer improvements in operational agility and detection performance, while addressing sensor weight, form factor and cost needs. This paper discusses the development of the RCIS system, and considers its application in various use scenarios.

This paper presents a study of different approaches to the measurement of the above ground vapor plume created by the spill caused by a small 0.1 l/min (or less) leak in an underground liquid petroleum pipeline. The scenarios are those for the measurement from an airborne platform. The usual approach is that of IR absorption, but in the case of liquid petroleum products, there are drawbacks that will be discussed, especially when using alkanes to detect a leak. The optical measurements studied include UV enhanced Raman lidar, UV fluorescence lidar and IR absorption path integrated lidars. The breadboards used for testing the different approaches will be described along with the set-ups for leak simulation. Although IR absorption would intuitively be the most sensitive, it is shown that UV-Raman could be an alternative. When using the very broad alkane signature in the IR, the varying ground spectral reflectance are a problem. It is also determined that integrated path measurements are preferred, the UV enhanced Raman measurements showing that the vapor plume stays very close to the ground.

The polymorphic phase of 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) was examined as a function of mass loading, solvent and sample deposition technique. When RDX was deposited at a high mass loading, the vibrational modes in the obtained Raman spectra were indicative of concomitant polymorphism as both the α and β-RDX phases were present. At low mass loadings, only β-RDX was observed regardless of solvent or mass loading. However, only the bulk phase (i.e., α- RDX) was observed when RDX deposits were dry transferred. Observation of the bulk phase was independent of the initial mass loading or the initial deposition solvent when using the dry transfer methodology. This data demonstrates that the use of the dry transfer preparation method can be used to successfully prepare RDX-based standards with the bulk phase regardless of the solvent used to initially dissolve the RDX, the initial deposition technique, or the mass loading.

Those that handle explosives materials invariably become contaminated with particulates of materials, which become entrapped in the grooves of the fingers and are then transferred by contact to other surfaces. These particles provide an evidentiary trail which is useful for security applications, a fact which is enhanced by the fact that many explosives materials of interest have low vapor pressures, augmenting their longevity. The persistence or stability of explosives particles on a substrate is a function of several environmental parameters or particle properties, including vapor pressure, particle size and geometry, airflow, particle field size, substrate topography, humidity, reactivity, adlayers, admixtures, particle areal density, and temperature. In this work we deposited particles of 2,4-dinitrotoluene on standard microscope glass slides by particle sieving and studied their sublimation as a function of temperature and relative humidity. A custom airflow cell allowed us to monitor the particles with in situ photomicroscopy while keeping the airflow over the particles, substrate type, and areal field size constant for each experiment. We define the size-independent radial sublimation velocity for the equivalent sphere of a particle as the parameter to characterize the sublimation rate. The dependence of the sublimation rate for an ensemble of particles on temperature was quantified according the radial sublimation velocity, while the sublimation of 2,4-dinintrotoluene was found to independent of relative humidity between 25-90%.

We demonstrate a new way for detection ultralow concentration of explosives in this study. It combines an ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and a promising method of laser desorption/ionization on silicon (DIOS). The DIOS is widely used in mass spectrometry due to the possibility of small molecule detection and high sensitivity. It is known that IMS based on laser ion source is a power method for the fast detection of ultralow concentration of organic molecules. However requirement of using high energy pulse ultraviolet laser increases weight and size of the device. The use of DIOS in an ion source of IMS could decrease energy pulse requirements and allows one to construct both compact and high sensitive device for analyzing gas and liquid probes. On the other hand mechanisms of DIOS in gas media is poorly studied, especially in case of nitroaromatic compounds. The investigation of the desorption/ionization on porous silicon (pSi) surface of nitroaromatic compounds has been carried out for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) using IMS and mass spectrometry (MS). It has been demonstrated that TNT ion formation in a gas medium is a complicated process and includes both an electron emission from the pSi surface with subsequent ion-molecular reactions in a gas phase and a proton transfer between pSi surface and TNT molecule.

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy is a powerful diagnostic tool for detection of trace elements by monitoring the atomic and ionic emission from laser-induced plasmas. Besides elemental emissions from conventional UV-Vis LIBS, molecular LIBS emission signatures of the target compounds were observed in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) region in recent studies. Most current LIBS studies employ the fundamental Nd:YAG laser output at 1.064 μm, which has extremely low eye-damage threshold. In this work, comparative LWIR-LIBS emissions studies using traditional 1.064 μm pumping and eye-safe laser wavelength at 1.574 μm were performed on several energetic materials for applications in chemical, biological, and explosive (CBE) sensing. A Q-switched Nd: YAG laser operating at 1.064 μm and the 1.574 μm output of a pulsed Nd:YAG pumped Optical Parametric Oscillator were employed as the excitation sources. The investigated energetic materials were studied for the appearance of LWIR-LIBS emissions (4-12 μm) that are directly indicative of oxygenated breakdown products as well as partially dissociated and recombination molecular species. The observed molecular IR LIBS emission bands showed strong correlation with FTIR absorption spectra of the studied materials for 1.064 μm and 1.574 μm pump wavelengths.