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 bund le to carry the excitation laser light to the sample and to collect the Ram an scattered light. Spectra of the explosives trinitrotoluene (TNT), cyclot rimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylenetetranitramine (HMX) and nitroguanidine (NQ) were obtained in very short times and are in good agree ment with those taken with conventional Fourier transform Raman spectromete rs. Spectra of mixtures of explosives were also obtained and show no overla p of their characteristic Raman bands. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.