Scientists Create Bomb-Detecting Laser useful for Security Checkpoints

Scientists from Michigan State University have created a bomb-detecting laser that can be used as an additional measure at security checkpoints.

With the numbers of lives lost to bomb-blasts all over the globe, the need for additional and more effective security checks is rising. Scientists from Michigan State University have created a bomb-detecting laser that can be used as an additional measure at security checkpoints.

According to the scientist who created this laser, Marcos Dantus, MSU chemistry professor and founder of BioPhotonic Solutions, the laser can detect micro traces of explosive chemicals on clothing and luggage.

"Since this method uses a single beam and requires no bulky spectrometers, it is quite practical and could scan many people and their belongings quickly," Dantus said in a press statement. "Not only does it detect the explosive material, but it also provides an image of the chemical's exact location, even if it's merely a minute trace on a zipper."

Dantus clarifies that the newly invented laser isn't a handheld device but can instead be embedded in conveyor belts, like the X-ray scanners already in use in airports.

Researchers have been trying to invent laser techniques that are strong enough to be used for detection as well as safe enough to be used on passengers and according to Dantus, the newly invented laser fits the bill The scientists also revealed that this inspiration came from Harvard University where scientists have developed a laser to detect cancer.

"While working on biomedical imaging, I began exploring additional applications," Dantus said. "We soon learned how effective it was for detecting traces of hazardous substances from distances up to 10 meters away."

The new laser works as a single beam, but uses two pulses. The first reverberates with certain chemical frequencies found in explosives. The second one is a shadow pulse, which serves as a reference. A discrepancy between the two pulses indicates the presence of explosive materials.

"The laser is not affected by the color or surface of clothes or luggage," Dantus said. "The resonant pulse and the shadow pulse are always in balance unless something is detected. Our method has Raman chemical specificity, excellent sensitivity and robust performance on virtually all surfaces."