Current stand-off hyperspectral imaging detection solutions that operate in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR), nominally 2.5 – 5 μm spectral region, are limited by the number of absorption bands that can be addressed. This issue is most apparent when evaluating a scene with multiple absorbers with overlapping spectral features making accurate material identification challenging. This limitation can be overcome by moving to the long wave IR (LWIR) region, which is rich in characteristic absorption features, which can provide ample molecular information in order to perform presumptive identification relative to a spectral library. This work utilises an instrument platform to perform negative contrast imaging using a novel LWIR optical parametric oscillator (OPO) as the source. The OPO offers continuous tuning in the region 5.5 – 9.5 μm, which includes a number of molecular vibrations associated with the target material compositions. Scanning the scene of interest whilst sweeping the wavelength of the OPO emission will highlight the presence of a suspect material and by analysing the resulting absorption spectrum, presumptive identification is possible. This work presents a selection of initial results using the LWIR hyperspectral imaging platform on a range of white powder materials to highlight the benefit operating in the LWIR region compared to the MWIR.
The ability of a stand-off chemical detector to distinguish two different chemical warfare agents is demonstrated in this paper. Using Negative Contrast Imaging, based upon IR absorption spectroscopy, we were able to detect 1 μl of VX, sulfur mustard and water on a subset of representative surfaces. These experiments were performed at a range of 1.3 metres and an angle of 45° to the surface. The technique employed utilises a Q-switched intracavity MgO:PPLN crystal that generated 1.4 – 1.8 μm (shortwave) and 2.6 – 3.6 μm (midwave) infrared radiation (SWIR and MWIR, respectively). The MgO:PPLN crystal has a fanned grating design which, via translation through a 1064 nm pump beam, enables tuning through the SWIR and MWIR wavelength ranges. The SWIR and MWIR beams are guided across a scene via a pair of raster scanned mirrors allowing detection of absorption features within these spectral regions. This investigation exploited MWIR signatures, as they provided sufficient molecular information to distinguish between toxic and benign chemicals in these proof-of-concept experiments.
The detection and identification of hazardous material is required in a wide range of application environments including military and civilian. Infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy is a technique that can be used for material identification through comparing absorption spectra with reference data from a spectral library. The absorption spectrum of a compound is the result of light at certain wavelengths being absorbed through molecular vibrations of the compound. To build on this phenomenon, hyperspectral imaging can be used to add spatial information of the absorber. In this case, the IR source output, an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) operating at 1.5 to 1.7 μm in the short wave IR (SWIR) and 2.7 to 3.6 μm in the mid wave IR (MWIR), is raster scanned using a galvanometric mirror pair across a scene of interest. The resulting backscattered light is de-scanned through the same mirror pair and focussed onto point detectors and images in the IR are generated. This hyperspectral imaging instrument is a prototype that is currently being developed for a wide range of applications. If an absorber is present and the OPO wavelength is tuned to an absorption feature of this absorber, this interaction will appear as a dark area in the generated image. With the broad tunability of the OPO, a detailed absorption spectrum of the target compound can be recorded and used to aid material identification. This work presents a selection of results where explosive simulants and materials were investigated and analysed using the prototype instrument.
Active hyperspectral imaging is a valuable tool in a wide range of applications. One such area is the detection and
identification of chemicals, especially toxic chemical warfare agents, through analysis of the resulting absorption
spectrum. This work presents a selection of results from a prototype midwave infrared (MWIR) hyperspectral imaging
instrument that has successfully been used for compound detection at a range of standoff distances. Active hyperspectral imaging utilises a broadly tunable laser source to illuminate the scene with light at a range of wavelengths. While there are a number of illumination methods, the chosen configuration illuminates the scene by raster scanning the laser beam using a pair of galvanometric mirrors. The resulting backscattered light from the scene is collected by the same mirrors and focussed onto a suitable single-point detector, where the image is constructed pixel by pixel. The imaging instrument that was developed in this work is based around an IR optical parametric oscillator (OPO) source with broad tunability, operating in the 2.6 to 3.7 μm (MWIR) and 1.5 to 1.8 μm (shortwave IR, SWIR) spectral regions. The MWIR beam was primarily used as it addressed the fundamental absorption features of the target compounds compared to the overtone and combination bands in the SWIR region, which can be less intense by more than an order of magnitude. We show that a prototype NCI instrument was able to locate hydrocarbon materials at distances up to 15 metres.
The most desirable configuration for detection of toxic chemicals utilises the maximum distance between detector and
hazard. This approach minimises the contamination of equipment or personnel. Where the target chemical is an involatile liquid, indirect detection of the liquid contamination is made difficult by inherently low vapour pressure. In this instance, direct detection of the chemical hazard is the best approach. Recent technology developments have allowed spectroscopic systems to provide multiple options for the stand-off detection of involatile chemical warfare agents (CWAs). Two different stand-off spectroscopic systems, based upon IR absorption and Raman spectroscopic techniques are described here. The Negative Contrast Imager (NCI) is based upon an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) source comprising a Q-switched intracavity MgO:PPLN crystal. This crystal has a fanned grating design and wavelength tuning is achieved by translating the PPLN crystal within the 1064 nm pump beam. This approach enables the production of shortwave and midwave IR radiation (1.5 – 1.8 μm and 2.6 – 3.8 μm, respectively), which is scanned across the scene of interest. Target materials that have an absorption feature commensurate with the wavelength of incoming radiation reduce the intensity of returned signal, resulting in dark pixels in the acquired image. This method enables location and classification of the target material. Stand-off Raman spectroscopy allows target chemicals to be identified at range through comparison of the acquired signature relative to a spectral database. In this work, we used a Raman system based upon a 1047 nm Nd:YLF laser source and a proprietary InGaAsP camera system. Utilisation of a longer excitation wavelength than most conventional stand-off detection systems (e.g. 532 or 785 nm) enables reduction of fluorescence from both the surface and the deposited chemicals, thereby revealing the Raman spectrum. NCI and Raman spectroscopy are able to detect CWAs on surfaces at distances of 2 – 10 metres and have potential to detect over longer ranges. We report the successful identification of at least 60 μl of nitrogen mustard at a distance of a 2 m and 10 m using NCI and Raman spectroscopy.
Active hyperspectral imaging is a valuable tool in a wide range of applications. A developing market is the detection and identification of energetic compounds through analysis of the resulting absorption spectrum. This work presents a selection of results from a prototype mid-infrared (MWIR) hyperspectral imaging instrument that has successfully been used for compound detection at a range of standoff distances. Active hyperspectral imaging utilises a broadly tunable laser source to illuminate the scene with light over a range of wavelengths. While there are a number of illumination methods, this work illuminates the scene by raster scanning the laser beam using a pair of galvanometric mirrors. The resulting backscattered light from the scene is collected by the same mirrors and directed and focussed onto a suitable single-point detector, where the image is constructed pixel by pixel. The imaging instrument that was developed in this work is based around a MWIR optical parametric oscillator (OPO) source with broad tunability, operating at 2.6 μm to 3.7 μm. Due to material handling procedures associated with explosive compounds, experimental work was undertaken initially using simulant compounds. A second set of compounds that was tested alongside the simulant compounds is a range of confusion compounds. By having the broad wavelength tunability of the OPO, extended absorption spectra of the compounds could be obtained to aid in compound identification. The prototype imager instrument has successfully been used to record the absorption spectra for a range of compounds from the simulant and confusion sets and current work is now investigating actual explosive compounds. The authors see a very promising outlook for the MWIR hyperspectral imager. From an applications point of view this format of imaging instrument could be used for a range of standoff, improvised explosive device (IED) detection applications and potential incident scene forensic investigation.
The ability to remotely locate and classify potential liquid hazards is desirable in a variety of civilian and military
applications. Candidate technologies to satisfy these requirements include the fusion of imaging and optical
spectroscopy. Hence, a novel system based on IR Negative Contrast Imaging (NCI) is presented. The NCI system is
based on an OPO comprising a periodically-poled LiNbO3 (PPLN) crystal of fanned grating design that operates in both
the shortwave and midwave IR spectral regions (1.5 - 1.9 μm and 2.4 - 3.8 μm, respectively). Wavelength tuning is
achieved by translating the PPLN crystal within the 1064 nm pump beam. System size and complexity are minimised by
the use of InGaAs and Zn doped MCT single element detectors and the intracavity OPO design. Images are composed by
raster scanning the monochromatic beam over the scene of interest; the reflection and/or absorption of the incident
radiation by target chemicals and their surrounding environment provide a method for spatial location of the hazard. The
NCI has been employed to detect liquid chemicals on a variety of surfaces; initial results of laboratory investigations are
presented here.
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