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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Quantitative Detection of Trace Explosive Vapors by Programmed Temperature Desorption Gas Chromatography-Electron Capture Detector
Published on: July 25, 2014
Automated detection of fingerprint traces of high explosives using ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy
1Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology, Aachen, Germany. peter.jander@ilt.fraunhofer.de
Abstract:
Ultraviolet (UV) resonance Raman spectroscopy is a promising technique for the detection of trace explosives. For real-world applications, it is necessary to develop data evaluation algorithms that automatically recognize the spectral features of explosives in a sample spectrum. We have developed a robust algorithm that can tolerate high levels of fluorescence background. We successfully demonstrated the detection of traces of ANFO and TNT explosives at surface coverage levels of 55 microg/cm(2) in a blind test experiment. The sensitivity and selectivity is discussed in terms of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves.
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