Avantes develops spectrometer for bomb detection based on EU-funded OPTIX project

An EU-funded research team behind the OPTIX project (Optical Technologies for the Identification of explosives),has successfully developed and tested a portable device, which can detect extremely small, as little as 1 microgram of explosives from up to 20 metres away.

The OPTIX project was launched to possibly prevent terrorist attacks, about 60% of which have been carried out by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Based on OPTIX research, Avantis has developed a new device that can scan objects such as cars, suitcases, or containers and pick up trace residue. The transportable system for the standoff detection and identification of explosives utilize LIBS, Raman and IR spectroscopy. In LIBS, a high-energy laser is fired at a suspicious target which causes any residue to turn into a plasma that emits certain wavelengths of light, which reveal the elements in the residue. The molecular makeup of a residue can be worked out using the Raman technique, because the laser induces vibrations that are unique to each chemical compound.