Experimental Explosive Characterization for Counterterrorist Investigation

Journal of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves August 2013, Volume 34, Issue 7-8, pp 468-479

D. Etayo, 

I. Maestrojuan, 

J. Teniente, 

I. Ederra, 

R. Gonzalo

Abstract

A THz spectral characterization of different explosives of special interest for the Spanish National Security Forces “Guardia Civil” is presented in this paper. This forensic analysis has been done in the frequency range from 0.060 THz to 3.5 THz using the Teraview TPS Spectra 3000 system in laboratory conditions. With this equipment the refractive index, absorbance and complex permittivity of the explosive samples have been obtained. In this study, some of the most common used explosives (Bullet gunpowder, mine gunpowder, PETN, TNT, RDX) are analysed paying special attention to differences related to the manufacturing process used to elaborate some of them and to the purity of the samples. The different fabrication processes of the explosives lead to the same spectral behaviour and characteristics. At the same time, the inclusion of some additives in the explosive samples does not alter their main electromagnetic properties. The sensitivity limit of the measurement system has been found to be to 10 mg of explosives. These results will be used to design future THz imaging systems that allow to detect and identify them in security and defence applications and/or to complete laboratory studies after a terrorist action.

To learn more about TeraView's product range register for free at http://www.teraview.com/info/contact-us.php 

FDTD-based computed terahertz wave propagation in multilayer medium structures

Wan-li Tu ; Shun-cong Zhong ; Hai-zi Yao ; Yao-chun Shen

Proc. SPIE 8909, International Symposium on Photoelectronic Detection and Imaging 2013: Terahertz Technologies and Applications, 89090Y (August 23, 2013); doi:10.1117/12.2034515

Abstact
The terahertz region of the electromagnetic spectrum spans the frequency range of 0.1THz~10THz, which ..........With the development and commercialization of terahertz pulsed spectroscopy (TPS) and terahertz pulsed imaging (TPI) systems, terahertz technologies have been widely used in the sensing and imaging fields. .......... We found that the simulation results on pharmaceutical tablet coatings were in good agreement with the experimental results obtained using a commercial system (TPI imaga 2000, TeraView, Cambridge, UK) , demonstrating its usefulness in simulating and analyzing terahertz responses from a multilayered sample.......

for full abstract and paper please see http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=1732305 

Extension of the p-Spectrum Method to the Higher Frequencies

N. Palka
Institute of Optoelectronics, Military University of Technology, S. Kaliskiego 2, 00-908 Warsaw, Poland

Abstact
The p-spectrum method is a time domain spectroscopy-based technique for re flection analysis of materials (including explosives) that takes into account only part of the re flected signal, which is next analyzed via the Fourier transform. The method is limited to the frequencies of about 1.8 THz due to the pulse properties of our time domain spectroscopy setup. In this paper we theoretically prove that application of a shorter pulse can increase this frequency range up to 2.2 THz, that enables analysis of penthrite and octogen, two important explosives.

ACTA PHYSICA POLONICA A Vol. 124(3) 543 (2013)

..........The proposed TDS-based p-spectrum method uses an external free standing module with a fiber-fed emitter and detector (Fig. 1a). This module is connected to the core unit of the Spectra 3000 from Teraview Company by means of optical fibers. The THz beam thanks to a set of the o -axis parabolic and at mirrors is focused on the sample and after specular re flection is collected and focused on the detector.   ..............

see full paper at http://przyrbwn.icm.edu.pl/APP/PDF/124/a124z3p40.pdf

6th International Workshop on Terahertz Technology and Applications March 11th - 12th 2014 Kaiserslautern Germany

Date:	11.03.2014 - 12.03.2014
Place:	Kaiserslautern
Type of Event:	Internationale Veranstaltung
Description:	The “International Workshop on Terahertz Technology and Applications” especially fosters the exchange of  knowledge and experience between academics and industry in this exciting and rapidly developing field.
Price:	350,00 €
E-Mail:	gma@vdi.de
Download:	Download
Details:

see http://www.vdi.de/technik/veranstaltungen/details-internationale-veranstaltungen/twevent/220/

Background and Motivation:
Nowadays Terahertz technology has proven to be a valuable tool for applications in diagnostics, measurement and testing. The industrial use of this technology, however, puts a lot of challenging questions.

The following renowned experts have confirmed to give invited lectures to the forum: 

• Prof. Dr. John F. Federici, New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA
• Prof. Dr. Edmund H. Linfield, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
• Prof. Dr. Masahiko Tani, Osaka University, Japan

Scope:  

The 6th Workshop will address primarily the topics

1. Non-destructive Testing
2. Technology for Homeland Security
3. Communications
4. Health and Social Aspects of Terahertz Technology
5. New THz system technologies

Program Committee:

• Prof. Dr. Karsten Buse, Fraunhofer IPM, Germany
• Prof. Dr. René Beigang, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany
• Prof. Dr. Koichiro Tanaka, Kyoto University, Japan
• Dr. Nicolas Breuil, Thales S.A., France
• Dr. Michael Theuer, BASF SE, Germany

 Submission of abstracts until October 31st, 2013: www.vdi-com.de 

Contact:
Dr. Erik Marquardt
VDI Division Optical Technologies
Phone: +49 (0)211 62 14-373
marquardt@vdi.de

Dr. Joachim Jonuscheit
Fraunhofer-Institut für Physikalische Messtechnik IPM, Location Kaiserslautern
Phone: +49 (0)631 2 05-51 07
joachim.jonuscheit@ipm.fraunhofer.de

Recent Advances in Spectroscopy at Terahertz Frequencies

Analytical Division, Molecular Spectroscopy Group & the East Anglia Region

3rd one day meeting on THz spectroscopy:

 “Recent Advances in Spectroscopy at Terahertz Frequencies”

 to be held on:

 Thursday 31 October 2013

 at the RSC Thomas Graham House, Science Park, Milton,

Cambridge, CB4 0WF

 

The Molecular Spectroscopy Group and East Anglia Region of the RSC will jointly host the 3^rd Terahertz Spectroscopy meeting to be held on Thursday 31^st October 2013:

 

Recent Advances in Spectroscopy at Terahertz Frequencies

This 3rd one day meeting will be held at Thomas Graham House in Cambridge and will focus on recent advances in terahertz spectroscopy.

Terahertz radiation, the part of the electromagnetic spectrum between microwaves and infrared radiation, has unique properties in that it easily penetrates through most polymeric materials and is therefore an exciting new tool to study such materials. As well as being a non-destructive imaging probe, in organic molecular crystals terahertz radiation interacts with vibrational modes that extend across large domains of a crystal lattice. This makes terahertz spectroscopy unique: even though it is possible to excite molecules using a variety of energies it is only through the careful selection of the low energy in the terahertz range that it is possible to selectively excite crystal lattice vibrations and study the presence and nature of interactions between molecules.

Travel directions for getting to Thomas Graham House may be found at: http://www.rsc.org/AboutUs/Contacts/TGH.asp

 

PROGRAMME

10.00 - 10.40        Registration and coffee

10.40 - 10:50        Welcome by John Chalmers and Axel Zeitler

10:50 - 11:20        “Terahertz spectroscopy – title TBA”.
                                Prof. Bernd Fischer (Institut Franco-Allemande de Recherches de Saint-Louis,                                             France)

11.20 - 11:50        DFT methods for THz spectral assignments.
                                Prof. Timothy Korter (Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, USA)         

11:50 - 12.20        Low frequency Raman spectroscopy of phase transformations.

                                Dr. Jonathan Burley (Department of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, UK)

12.20 - 12.50        Normal coordinate analysis of neutron diffraction data – link to THz                                                          spectroscopy.

                                Prof. Jacqui Cole (Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK).

12.50 - 14:00        Lunch

14.00 - 14.30        Coherent Synchrotron Radiation in low-alpha mode at Diamond Light Source for

                                Fourier Transform IR Interferometer in the (sub-)THz gap 5-100cm^-1

                                Dr. Gianfelice Cinque (MIRIAM Beamline, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Campus,                                   UK)

14.30 - 15:00        Thermal decouplng of molecular relaxation processes from the vibrational                                              density states insupercooled hydrogen-bonded liquids. 

                                Juraj Sibik (Department of Chemical Engineering & Biotechnology, University of                                            Cambridge, UK)

15:00 - 15.30        Tea break

15.30 - 16:00        Microstructure analysis of confined liquids with terahertz time-domain

                                spectroscopy.                                               

                                Nicholas Tan (Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of                                 Cambridge, UK)

16:00 - 16.30        Crystallization of amorphous lactose at high humidity studied by terahertz time                                      domain spectroscopy. 

                                Dr. Robert Donnan (School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Queen                                  Mary College University London, UK)

16:30      Close