AOTF Raman spectrometer for remote detection of explosives.

A spectrometer based on acousto-optic tunable filters is developed for use in measuring Raman spectra as part of a detection system that is low-cost, reliable, and field-portable. The system is coupled with a fiber optic bundle to carry the excitation laser light to the sample and to collect the Raman scattered light. Spectra of the explosives trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) and nitroguanidine (NQ) were obtained in very short times and are in good agreement with those taken with conventional Fourier transform Raman spectrometers. Spectra of mixtures of explosives were also obtained and show no overlap of their characteristic Raman bands.