Abstract

Standoff detection and identification is one of the most wanted capabilities while it is also one of the largest technical challenges. The large distances required pose several physical difficulties: The intensity of the return light decreases inversely with the distance squared, absorption losses in air (wavelength dependent) and scattering losses in air (wavelength dependent). The technologies with best potential for being fast, selective, sensitive, able to detect and identify many substances and upgradeable to new threats are laser based spectrometric methods for trace detection. One of the detection methods that are anticipated to meet the requirements for explosives standoff detection is Raman spectroscopy. Research and development of Raman spectroscopy based standoff detection technologies performed at FOI over the last few years include detection and identification of bulk as well as trace amounts of explosives. Some examples of results are given in this presentation.

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