Chemical, biological and explosives sensing at stand-off with quantum cascade laser dual-comb spectroscopy

理想的有害和非法物质痕量检测系统应该能够在大面积扫描的同时，在显著范围内快速、原位识别各种材料。这种自动化系统应该能够检测威胁，在复杂的污染环境中工作，识别一系列物质，并提供适当和及时的警告，同时尽量减少对正常人员流动的中断。本项目将研制一种新型隔离扫描双梳光谱仪，用于检测和鉴定各种表面上的化学、生物或爆炸物残留物。最近，我们展示了基于量子级联激光器（QCL）频率梳源的双梳光谱的分子物质痕量的距离传感（https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2022.3147899）。在这个项目中，将开发一种用于化学、生物和爆炸物探测和鉴定的隔离扫描双梳光谱仪的概念验证。分析了双梳扫描谱仪在静态和扫描状态下可实现的检出限。将确定将这些检测限推向痕量物质检测实际感兴趣的值的主要限制。将研究各种表面上物质的原位识别的最佳统计方法，目标是开发用于现场环境中目标识别的定制软件。更多信息请联系Vasili Savitski博士：vasili.savitski@fraunhofer.co.uk

Ideal system for detection of traces of harmful and illegal substances should be capable of rapid, in-situ identification of a broad range of materials at significant range whilst scanning over large areas. Such automated systems should be capable of detecting the threat, work in complex, contaminated environments, identify the array of substances, and provide suitable and timely warnings while minimising interruption to normal flow of people. In this project a new stand-off scanning dual-comb spectrometer will be developed for detection and identification of chemical, biological or explosives residues on various surfaces.Recently, we demonstrated stand-off sensing of traces of molecular substances based on dual-comb spectroscopy using Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) frequency comb sources (https://doi.org/10.1109/TIM.2022.3147899 ). In this project a proof-of-concept of a stand-off scanning dual- comb spectrometer for chemical, biological and explosives detection and identification will be developed.The achievable detection limits of the dual-comb scanning spectrometer in static and scanning regimes will be analyzed. Main limitations in pushing these detection limits towards the values of practical interest for traces of substances detection will be determined. The best statistical methods for in-situ identification of substances on various surfaces will be studied targeting the development of bespoke software for target identification in field environment.For more information contact Dr. Vasili Savitski: vasili.savitski@fraunhofer.co.uk