Standoff Detection of Hazardous Molecules for Defense Applications

The paper is focused on the development of measurement technique and processing of signal for the detection of chemical, explosive, biological agents and its simulants using Engineered Quartz Enhanced Laser Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (QE-LPAS) technique. Hazardous materials like Sarin, TATP (Tri acetone tri-peroxide) and their simulants like DMMP (Dimethyl Methyl Phosphonate), Acetone, and atmospheric species were detected at 7 to 11 μm wavelength band. QE PAS technique is developed and demonstrated from a standoff distance of up to 30 meters in gaseous/vapourous and aerosols based on retro-reflector in ~2.0 ppm concentration. Hazardous biomolecules like Tryphatophan and DPA were detected on diffused aluminum adsorbed surface plate. Explosive and its simulants, TNT on adsorbed surface and DMMP, Nitrobenzene, Acetone were detected in vapour/aerosol form. A dedicated single screen, single user, user friendly Graphical User Interface (GUI) for controlling the entire system, acquisition and processing of the incoming signal and demonstration of results has been developed with the help of Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench (LABVIEW).