Noncontact optical detection of explosive particles via photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence.

High-sensitivity (ng/cm²) optical detection of the explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is demonstrated using photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence (PD-LIF). Detection occurs rapidly, within 6 laser pulses (~7 ns each) at a range of 15 cm. Dropcasting is used to create calibrated samples covering a wide range of TNT concentrations; and a correspondence between fractional area covered by TNT and PD-LIF signal strength is observed. Dropcast data are compared to that of an actual fingerprint. These results demonstrate that PD-LIF could be a viable means of rapidly and remotely scanning surfaces for trace explosive residues.

Noncontact detection of homemade explosive constituents via photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence.

Noncontact detection of the homemade explosive constituents urea nitrate, nitromethane and ammonium nitrate is achieved using photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence (PD-LIF). Our technique utilizes a single ultraviolet laser pulse (approximately 7 ns) to vaporize and photodissociate the condensed-phase materials, and then to detect the resulting vibrationally-excited NO fragments via laser-induced fluorescence. PD-LIF excitation and emission spectra indicate the creation of NO in vibrationally-excited states with significant rotational energy, useful for low-background detection of the parent compound. The results for homemade explosives are compared to one another and 2,6-dinitrotoluene, a component present in many military explosives.

Detection of condensed-phase explosives via laser-induced vaporization, photodissociation, and resonant excitation.

We investigate the remote detection of explosives via a technique that vaporizes and photodissociates the condensed-phase material and detects the resulting vibrationally excited NO fragments via laser-induced fluorescence. The technique utilizes a single 7 ns pulse of a tunable laser near 236.2 nm to perform these multiple processes. The resulting blue-shifted fluorescence (226 nm) is detected using a photomultiplier and narrowband filter that strongly block the scatter of the pump laser off the solid media while passing the shorter wavelength photons. Various nitro-bearing compounds, including 2,6-dinitrotoluene (DNT), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) were detected with a signal-to-noise of 25 dB. The effects of laser fluence, wavelength, and sample morphology were examined.

All silicon infrared photodiodes: photo response and effects of processing temperature.

CMOS compatible infrared waveguide Si photodiodes are made responsive from 1100 to 1750 nm by Si(+) implantation and annealing. This article compares diodes fabricated using two annealing temperatures, 300 and 475 degrees C. 0.25-mm-long diodes annealed to 300 degrees C have a response to 1539 nm radiation of 0.1 A W-(-1) at a reverse bias of 5 V and 1.2 A W(-1) at 20 V. 3-mm-long diodes processed to 475 degrees C exhibited two states, L1 and L2, with photo responses of 0.3 +/-0.1 A W(-1) at 5 V and 0.7 +/-0.2 A W(-1) at 20 V for the L1 state and 0.5 +/-0.2 A W(-1) at 5 V and 4 to 20 A W(-1)-1 at 20 V for the L2 state. The diodes can be switched between L1 and L2. The bandwidths vary from 10 to 20 GHz. These diodes will generate electrical power from the incident radiation with efficiencies from 4 to 10 %.

Contoured elastic-membrane microvalves for microfluidic network integration.

A contoured elastic-membrane microvalve is presented that enables integrated microfluidic processing at the network level. This method takes advantage of two ideas to improve performance: flexible elastic membranes (which enable high-performance shutoff and reduced footprint), and three-dimensionally contoured valve geometries (which reduce dead volume, improve fluidic priming, and reduce susceptibility to cavitation at high fluid velocities). We describe the use of laser-induced etching for microfluidic manifold fabrication, discuss the nonlinear load-deflection behavior of elastic membranes that can occur below 30 psi, and present flow-rate data for microvalves under inlet pressures of 0-20 psi with zero applied membrane pressure. Valve-closure data for inlet pressures of 0-30 psi are presented for fully assembled microvalve structures. The microvalve structures under test were capable of turning off flows of > 20 microL/s. These flow rates were shown to be limited by inlet and outlet flow resistances and not by the valve structure itself, so that higher maximum flow rate capabilities should be readily achieved.

Biodistribution of an ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide colloid, BMS 180549, by different routes of administration.

The ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide colloid BMS 180549 can be found lymph nodes by either subcutaneous (SC) or intravenous (IV) injection. With an SC injection in the front extremities, the axillary and brachial nodes attain the highest accumulations of the agent. With an SC injection in the rear extremities, the popliteal, iliac, and axillary nodes attain highest accumulations of the agent. With IV injection of the agent, the iliac, mediastinal and mesenteric nodes attain highest accumulations of the agent. Though the spleen is not involved with the drainage of the interstitial space near the site of SC injections, the mobility of BMS 180549 from such injection sites increases splenic relaxation rates. Based on a knowledge of the lymphatic system, a route of administration of BMS 180549 can be chosen to maximize the delivery of the agent to specific lymph nodes.