A two-pulse, pump-probe method for short-range, remote standoff detection of chemical warfare agents

Scott E. Bisson; Jeffrey M Headrick; Thomas A. Reichardt; Roger L Farrow; Thomas J. Kulp

doi:10.1117/12.887918

3 June 2011 A two-pulse, pump-probe method for short-range, remote standoff detection of chemical warfare agents

Scott E. Bisson, Jeffrey M Headrick, Thomas A. Reichardt, Roger L Farrow, Thomas J. Kulp

Proceedings Volume 8018, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XII; 80180Q (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.887918
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

We describe a photofragment laser-induced fluorescence (PF-LIF) method that can be applied to the short-range-standoff detection of low-volatility organophosphonate chemical warfare agents (OP-CWAs) on surfaces. It operates by photofragmenting a surface-bound analyte and then actively interrogating a released phosphorous monoxide (PO) fragment using LIF. We demonstrate a single-pulse-pair (pump = 500 μJ @ 266 nm; probe = 20 μJ @ 248 nm) surface detection sensitivity of 30 μg/cm² for the organophosphonate diisopropyl isothiocyanate phosphonate (DIPP) on aluminum and 210 μg/cm² for the same analyte on a more porous concrete surface. By detecting the PO photofragment, the method indicates the presence of organophosphonates; however, we show that it also responds to other phosphorouscontaining compounds. Because of its limited specificity, we believe that the method may have most immediate use as a mapping tool to rapidly identify "hotspots" of OP-CWAs. These would then be confirmed using a more specific tool. As one method of confirming the presence of OP-CWAs (and identifying the agent), we demonstrate that the probe beam can be used to acquire Raman-scattering spectra of the target area.

Citation Download Citation

Scott E. Bisson, Jeffrey M Headrick, Thomas A. Reichardt, Roger L Farrow, and Thomas J. Kulp "A two-pulse, pump-probe method for short-range, remote standoff detection of chemical warfare agents", Proc. SPIE 8018, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) Sensing XII, 80180Q (3 June 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.887918

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