Imaging stand-off detection of explosives using tunable MIR quantum cascade lasers

摘要

Results on the detection of traces of trinitrotoluene (TNT) on different substrate-materials like Aluminum and standard car paint are presented. We investigated different samples with a movable imaging standoff detection system at angles of incidence far away from specular reflection. The samples were illuminated with a tunable mid-infrared external-cavity quantum cascade laser. For collection of the diffusely backscattered light a high-performance infrared imager was used. Trace concentrations of TNT corresponding to fingerprints on real-world-substrates were detected, while false alarms of cross-contaminations were successfully suppressed.