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Existing and Potential Standoff Explosives Detection Techniques (2004) / Chapter Skim
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7 Unexploited Potential Bases of Detection
Pages 104-116

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From page 104...
... Each of these ideas is presented in a separate section below, with the purpose of identifying future research directions. DYNAMICAL BEHAVIOR OF AN EXPLOSIVE VAPOR PLUME Hypothesis and Concept An understanding of the dynamical behavior of the vapor plume emanating from an explosive will assist the development of devices for detecting explosives at a distance via their molecular properties, namely, their spectroscopic properties.1 This understanding should answer questions such as: What is the shape of the plume?
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From page 105...
... Schlieren photography, on the other hand, is based on vapor density differences, the image being formed by refraction and scattering from areas of varying refractive index. The evaporation of acetone from a container or the heat waves emanating from a human body are clearly "seen." The question is whether or not the current schlieren technology is sensitive enough to detect the vapors coming off an explosive.
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From page 106...
... By adhered explosive materials is meant adsorbed vapors, adsorbed explosiveladen particles, and adhered explosive particles or residue. Therefore, there may be no advantage to studying the dynamics of the vapor plume if the explosive is in a closed environment where almost all of the emitted explosive vapor is adhered to surfaces.
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From page 107...
... In order to perform standoff measurement of plume characteristics, schlieren photography and other techniques to detect chemical information about a plume should be utilized to detect chemical signatures of explosives. DETECTION OF A SUICIDE BOMBER'S LOCAL ATMOSPHERE- ANOMALIES IN THE ATMOSPHERIC ION BACKGROUND Hypothesis and Concept Would the tendency for high explosives containing electronegative nitro or peroxide groups to undergo electron attachment cause depletion in negative ions around a person carrying concealed explosives as he or she walks through the background ion field?
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From page 108...
... Relevance to the Committee's Mission This approach might provide a method of broad-area surveillance for concealed explosives, which would be nonhazardous to subjects being examined. Existing Technology Related to This Idea Measurable perturbation of the background ion concentration has been claimed in human breath.7 It may be possible to amplify the atmospheric ion background for improved detection sensitivity at an entry portal through the use of van de Graff generators or some other method.
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From page 109...
... , but applying this general idea to the initiation of an explosive is novel.8 Detonation by coupling the electronics or wires of a detonator in a bomb using remote energy is directly novel. Relevance to the Committee's Mission Detection is accomplished using relatively simple physical devices.
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From page 110...
... Various explosives admit to different means of energetic excitation, so this system may be somewhat selective both in terms of explosives detonated and in terms of energy source specifics. For example, shockresistant explosives would essentially not be detonated by acoustic energy.
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From page 111...
... Novelty This approach couples detection technologies with the need for area surveillance. The standoff mine technology requires energy sources that last for long periods of time and are activated by motion.
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From page 112...
... Relevance to the Committee's Mission Detection is accomplished using proximal probes (i.e., probes that must be close to explosive) , but this provides opportunity for wide-area detection.
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From page 113...
... This would be particularly significant for the military checkpoint challenge. Existing Technology Related to This Idea A number of companies make one-side Compton backscatter scanning systems (the emitter and detector can be placed near one another, in contrast to transmission X-ray approaches)
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From page 114...
... . Challenges This approach is fundamentally limited by the number of backscatter photons detected.
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From page 115...
... , a bioluminescent reporter gene, and a microphotocell and released in sewers to locate outflow from bomb factories or drug labs? Novelty The novelty of this approach is the use of bees and rats for preemptive explosives detection.
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From page 116...
... . RECOMMENDATION Recommendation: Feasibility studies should be developed on the ideas suggested in Chapter 7 to assess their potential in sensors suit able for standoff detection.
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Key Terms

  • explosive vapor
  • compton backscatter
  • explosives detection
  • standoff detection
  • energy source

  • backscatter photons
  • millimeter wavelength
  • schlieren photography
  • negative ions
  • atmospheric ion

  • military checkpoint
  • adhered explosive
  • energy sources
  • optical techniques
  • focused millimeter

  • explosive material
  • couple microfluidic
  • detection technologies
  • remote energy
  • explosive vapors

  • wavelength radiation
  • concealed explosives
  • explosiveladen particles
  • ion concentration
  • dynamical behavior

  • human body
  • detection techniques
  • using remote
  • vapor concentration
  • background ion


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