A non-imaging polarized terahertz passive system for detecting and identifying concealed explosives

Mostafa A. Karam; Doug Meyer

doi:10.1117/12.882642

23 May 2011 A non-imaging polarized terahertz passive system for detecting and identifying concealed explosives

Mostafa A. Karam, Doug Meyer

Proceedings Volume 8017, Detection and Sensing of Mines, Explosive Objects, and Obscured Targets XVI; 801718 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.882642
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

Existing terahertz THz systems for detecting concealed explosives are not capable of identifying explosive type which leads to higher false alarm rates. Moreover, some of those systems are imaging systems that invade personal privacy, and require more processing and computational resources. Other systems have no polarization preference which makes them incapable of capturing the geometric features of an explosive. In this study a non-imaging polarized THz passive system for detecting and identifying concealed explosives overcoming the forgoing shortcomings is developed. The system employs a polarized passive THz sensor in acquiring emitted data from a scene that may have concealed explosives. The acquired data are decomposed into their natural resonance frequencies, and the number of those frequencies is used as criteria in detecting the explosive presence. If the presence of an explosive is confirmed, a set of physically based retrieval algorithms is used in extracting the explosive dielectric constant/refractive index value from natural resonance frequencies and amplitudes of associated signals. Comparing the refractive index value against a database of refractive indexes of known explosives identifies the explosive type. As an application, a system having a dual polarized radiometer operating within the frequency band of 0.62- 0.82 THz is presented and used in detecting and identifying person borne C-4 explosive concealed under a cotton garment. The system showed higher efficiencies in detecting and identifying the explosive.

Citation Download Citation

Mostafa A. Karam and Doug Meyer "A non-imaging polarized terahertz passive system for detecting and identifying concealed explosives", Proc. SPIE 8017, Detection and Sensing of Mines, Explosive Objects, and Obscured Targets XVI, 801718 (23 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.882642

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KEYWORDS

Explosives

Dielectrics

Terahertz radiation

Reflectivity

Radiometry

Absorption

Signal detection

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