Standoff photo acoustic spectroscopy

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2008 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2945288· OSTI ID:966734

Van Neste, Charles W ^[1]; Senesac, Larry R ^[1]; Thundat, Thomas George ^[1]

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1. ORNL

Here, we demonstrate a variation of photoacoustic spectroscopy that can be used for obtaining spectroscopic information of surface adsorbed chemicals in a standoff fashion. Pulsed light scattered from a target excites an acoustic resonator and the variation of the resonance amplitude as a function of illumination wavelength yields a representation of the absorption spectrum of the target. We report sensitive and selective detection of surface adsorbed compounds such as tributyl phosphate and residues of explosives such as trinitrotoluene at standoff distances ranging from 0.5-20 m, with a detection limit on the order of 100 ng/cm{sup 2}.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: NNSA USDOE - National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 966734
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 23 Vol. 92; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English