Fiber optic coupled quantum cascade infrared laser system for detection of explosive materials on surfaces

•An infrared fiber combiner was used to join output of multiple QCL.•Spectra of ink-jet printed explosives on aluminum surfaces were generated.•Excellent spectral results were demonstrated compared to FTIR spectra.•The fiber combiner provides a viable substitution to free-space optics. The design an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Optics and laser technology 2019-11, Vol.119, p.105635, Article 105635
Main Authors: Major, Kevin J., Shaw, L. Brandon, Busse, Lynda, Gattass, Rafael, Arnone, David, Lopez, Enrique, Pushkarsky, Michael, Kane, Justin, Clewes, Rhea J., Lee, Linda, Howle, Chris R., Sanghera, Jasbinder S., Ewing, Kenneth J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aluminum
Apertures
Explosive detection
Explosives detection
Fiber lasers
Fiber optics
Fourier transforms
FTIR spectrometers
Gold
Infrared lasers
Infrared optical fiber
Infrared spectroscopy
Lasers
Modules
Optical fibers
Quantum cascade laser
Quantum cascade lasers
RDX
Reflectance spectroscopy
Spectra
Standoff detection
Substrates
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Summary:•An infrared fiber combiner was used to join output of multiple QCL.•Spectra of ink-jet printed explosives on aluminum surfaces were generated.•Excellent spectral results were demonstrated compared to FTIR spectra.•The fiber combiner provides a viable substitution to free-space optics. The design and assembly of a unique infrared (IR) optical-fiber combined quantum cascade laser (QCL) system is described. This system integrates the output from four individual QCL modules, using infrared optical fibers, into a single output aperture to provide continuous spectral scanning from 6.02 to 11.17 µm. Spectra were collected on a diffuse gold reference as well as multiple concentrations of the explosive 1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX) which were inkjet printed on aluminum substrates. The collected RDX spectra were compared to RDX spectra collected using a conventional Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The results show good agreement between the spectra collected using the fiber-combined QCL system and the standard FTIR. These results demonstrate that the use of infrared optical fibers to combine multiple QCL modules is a viable approach to developing IR laser sources for use in fieldable devices capable of standoff detection of explosives.
ISSN:0030-3992
1879-2545
DOI:10.1016/j.optlastec.2019.105635