Designing optical sensor arrays with enhanced sensitivity for explosives detection

Keith J. Albert; Todd A. Dickinson; David R. Walt; Joel White; John S. Kauer

doi:10.1117/12.324216

4 September 1998 Designing optical sensor arrays with enhanced sensitivity for explosives detection

Keith J. Albert, Todd A. Dickinson, David R. Walt, Joel White, John S. Kauer

Proceedings Volume 3392, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets III; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.324216
Event: Aerospace/Defense Sensing and Controls, 1998, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

We have previously developed an optically-based 'artificial nose' to detect a wide variety of volatile organic compounds. An optical fiber sensor array is prepared containing a variety of differentially-reactive sensors comprised of polymer/dye combinations. When an analyte is presented in pulsatile form each sensor produces a unique fluorescence vs. time signature. The system employs neural network analysis to discriminate between many organic vapors using pattern recognition. Following an initial training step, the system can recognize 91 - 100% of a training set and greater than 84% of a test set of volatile organics. We are now attempting to detect explosives and explosive-like materials using this system. Prior work has shown that some sensors respond to compounds structurally similar to TNT (e.g. 2,4-DNT and 2,6-DNT) at saturated vapor concentrations. These preliminary results provide grounds for exploring the capacity of these and other new polymer/dye sensing combinations for detecting polynitro- compounds at low concentrations.

Citation Download Citation

Keith J. Albert, Todd A. Dickinson, David R. Walt, Joel White, and John S. Kauer "Designing optical sensor arrays with enhanced sensitivity for explosives detection", Proc. SPIE 3392, Detection and Remediation Technologies for Mines and Minelike Targets III, (4 September 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.324216

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available