Design Considerations for a Portable Raman Probe Spectrometer for Field Forensics
Abstract
Raman spectroscopy has been shown to be a viable method for explosives detection. Currently most forensic Raman systems are either large, powerful instruments for laboratory experiments or handheld instruments forin situpoint detection. We have chosen to examine the performance of certain benchtop Raman probe systems with the goal of developing an inexpensive, portable system that could be used to operate in a field forensics laboratory to examine explosives-related residues or samples. To this end, a rugged, low distortion line imaging dispersive Raman spectrograph was configured to work at 830 nm laser excitation and was used to determine whether the composition of thin films of plastic explosives or small (e.g., ≤10 μm) particles of RDX or other explosives or oxidizers can be detected, identified, and quantified in the field. With 300 mW excitation energy, concentrations of RDX and PETN can be detected and reconstructed in the case of thin Semtex smears, but further work is needed to push detection limits of areal dosages to the ~1μg/cm2level. We describe the performance of several probe/spectrograph combinations and show preliminary data for particle detection, calibration and detection linearity for mixed compounds, and so forth.
- Authors:
-
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1052928
- Report Number(s):
- PNNL-SA-86322
Journal ID: ISSN 1687-9449; 400403309
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC05-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- International Journal of Spectroscopy
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 2012; Journal ID: ISSN 1687-9449
- Publisher:
- Hindawi
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Citation Formats
Kelly, James F., Blake, Thomas A., Bernacki, Bruce E., and Johnson, Timothy J. Design Considerations for a Portable Raman Probe Spectrometer for Field Forensics. United States: N. p., 2012.
Web. doi:10.1155/2012/938407.
Kelly, James F., Blake, Thomas A., Bernacki, Bruce E., & Johnson, Timothy J. Design Considerations for a Portable Raman Probe Spectrometer for Field Forensics. United States. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/938407
Kelly, James F., Blake, Thomas A., Bernacki, Bruce E., and Johnson, Timothy J. Sun .
"Design Considerations for a Portable Raman Probe Spectrometer for Field Forensics". United States. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/938407. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1052928.
@article{osti_1052928,
title = {Design Considerations for a Portable Raman Probe Spectrometer for Field Forensics},
author = {Kelly, James F. and Blake, Thomas A. and Bernacki, Bruce E. and Johnson, Timothy J.},
abstractNote = {Raman spectroscopy has been shown to be a viable method for explosives detection. Currently most forensic Raman systems are either large, powerful instruments for laboratory experiments or handheld instruments forin situpoint detection. We have chosen to examine the performance of certain benchtop Raman probe systems with the goal of developing an inexpensive, portable system that could be used to operate in a field forensics laboratory to examine explosives-related residues or samples. To this end, a rugged, low distortion line imaging dispersive Raman spectrograph was configured to work at 830 nm laser excitation and was used to determine whether the composition of thin films of plastic explosives or small (e.g., ≤10 μm) particles of RDX or other explosives or oxidizers can be detected, identified, and quantified in the field. With 300 mW excitation energy, concentrations of RDX and PETN can be detected and reconstructed in the case of thin Semtex smears, but further work is needed to push detection limits of areal dosages to the ~1μg/cm2level. We describe the performance of several probe/spectrograph combinations and show preliminary data for particle detection, calibration and detection linearity for mixed compounds, and so forth.},
doi = {10.1155/2012/938407},
journal = {International Journal of Spectroscopy},
number = ,
volume = 2012,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2012}
}
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