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Title: Microcantilever detector for explosives

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for detecting the presence of explosives by analyzing a vapor sample from the suspect vicinity utilize at least one microcantilever. Explosive gas molecules which have been adsorbed onto the microcantilever are subsequently heated to cause combustion. Heat, along with momentum transfer from combustion, causes bending and a transient resonance response of the microcantilever which may be detected by a laser diode which is focused on the microcantilever and a photodetector which detects deflection of the reflected laser beam caused by heat-induced deflection and resonance response of the microcantilever.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Knoxville, TN
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
872365
Patent Number(s):
5918263
Assignee:
Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation (Oak Ridge, TN)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01N - INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-96OR22464
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
microcantilever; detector; explosives; methods; apparatus; detecting; presence; analyzing; vapor; sample; suspect; vicinity; utilize; explosive; gas; molecules; adsorbed; subsequently; heated; combustion; heat; momentum; transfer; causes; bending; transient; resonance; response; detected; laser; diode; focused; photodetector; detects; deflection; reflected; beam; caused; heat-induced; vapor sample; gas molecules; laser beam; laser diode; momentum transfer; reflected laser; resonance response; /73/310/422/

Citation Formats

Thundat, Thomas G. Microcantilever detector for explosives. United States: N. p., 1999. Web.
Thundat, Thomas G. Microcantilever detector for explosives. United States.
Thundat, Thomas G. Fri . "Microcantilever detector for explosives". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872365.
@article{osti_872365,
title = {Microcantilever detector for explosives},
author = {Thundat, Thomas G},
abstractNote = {Methods and apparatus for detecting the presence of explosives by analyzing a vapor sample from the suspect vicinity utilize at least one microcantilever. Explosive gas molecules which have been adsorbed onto the microcantilever are subsequently heated to cause combustion. Heat, along with momentum transfer from combustion, causes bending and a transient resonance response of the microcantilever which may be detected by a laser diode which is focused on the microcantilever and a photodetector which detects deflection of the reflected laser beam caused by heat-induced deflection and resonance response of the microcantilever.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999},
month = {Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1999}
}