Los Alamos National Laboratory Collaboration for Explosives Detection

Detect

Scientists and engineers develop detection technologies for every conceivable type of explosive under a variety of scenarios.

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Detection technologies for every conceivable type of explosive

Los Alamos scientists and engineers develop detection technologies for every conceivable type of explosive under a variety of scenarios. Detection methods range from trace and signature characterization to bulk detection and new methods that address homemade or esoteric explosives.

Los Alamos has developed technologies that range from sensors designed to help warfighters detect improvised explosive devices (known as IEDs) from afar to imaging techniques that find hidden explosives in liquids. Concurrently, scientists continue to make fundamental improvements to existing technologies. The following are just some of the areas that fall under the “detect” banner at Los Alamos:

Advanced image analysis

  • Anomalous change detection
  • Whole-body imaging

Exquisite surveillance technologies

Fundamental improvements to existing technologies

IED location independent detection

Remote selective trace detection of explosive vapors/residues

  • Advanced swipe materials
  • Colorimetry
  • Deep ultraviolet Raman
  • Deep UV Raman
  • Electrochemistry
  • Gas chromatography
  • Ion mobility spectrometry
  • Mass spectrometry
  • ODD-Ex: Pulse shape optimized species-selective coherent Raman scattering
  • Active mm-wave imaging

Standoff detection of physical and chemical signatures from manufacturing and concealed deployment

Standoff high-selectivity spectroscopy of explosive vapors, residues, or bulk

Standoff stimulation of signatures released from explosive bulks, with signature analysis

  • Dielectric permittivity
  • Piezoelectric effects
  • Resonant ultrasound
  • Spectroscopic library development
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