Thermoluminescence sensor for the remote detection of chemical agents

Abstract

A system for remotely detecting liquid contaminants on surfaces, including hemical agents and their simulants is presented. The system includes a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroradiometer aligned to optionally develop graybody photoluminescence spectra from the generation of a plurality of interferograms co-added to provide a favorable signal to noise ratio for use with and thereafter transforming the co-added interferograms. A laser is used for surface irradiating a substrate potentially having the chemical agents to heat the substrate. A shutter controls the laser to receive and record photoluminescence emissions from the heated substrate, and generate a plurality of interferograms co-added to provide a favorable signal to noise ratio for use with the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroradiometer. The co-added interferograms are used to generate molecular absorption resonant peaks which are mathematically processed in the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroradiometer. The acquired data is processed to match the spectrum of known chemical agent and the measured difference emissions spectrum during irradiation. If a match exists, the presence of chemical agents is confirmed. A digital filter may be used to extract the chemical agent emission band which are distinct from the emission bands of the substrate sought by the detection system.