Abstract

Rapid detection and precise analysis of explosives in the environment is playing an increasingly important role in the modern world:¹ for example, in criminal investigations of bombings, in detection of explosive materials concealed in mail or in airline baggage, in detection of soils and/or groundwater polluted by explosive materials. Spectroscopic methods can provide high selectivity and sensitivity for explosive detection.² Because of their low vapor pressure,³ very sensitive detection is needed. Cavity Ringdown Laser Spectroscopy (CRDLS) is the most suitable technique for this purpose. The basic principles of CRDLS are presented in Reference 4.

© 2000 Optical Society of America