MICHAEL PHELAN / LONDON
Company hopes spectrometer will pave the way for the introduction of miniature portable real-time device
EADS is developing a miniaturised ion mobility spectrometer (M-IMS), which it hopes will lead to a small portable real-time explosives detector for aviation security applications. The M-IMS consists of a laser tailored to ionise certain molecules and an ion collector and amplifier.
Johann Göbel, of EADS Corporate Research Centre - Industrial, Research & Technology, says the sensitivity of the device is increased by using a system of internal mirrors to increase the length of the laser beam, increasing the probability of ionising a molecule of the target substance. The mirrors give "up to 100 times improvement in detection sensitivity", says Göbel, "improving the chance of detection of very low vapour pressure explosives". By tailoring the wavelength of the laser beam only molecules of interest are ionised. The ions are then accelerated along the drift cell by an electrical field to the sensors.
Göbel says the size of the device is critical for everyday operations. "In the prototype constructed, the ion drift cell is only 4mm [0.16in] high, and the whole package is the size of CD case," he says.
He foresees uses for the equipment in airport security, cargo screening and aircraft onboard fire detection, but says further work is required in laser miniaturisation and false warning reduction, while he hopes that the system could also incorporate bio-aerosol detection in the future.
Australian research and development group QRSciences has signed a licensing agreement with L-3 Communications Security Systems for the use of quadruple resonance (QR) explosive detection technology in L-3's screening products, writes Emma Kelly. The L-3 deal follows similar agreements with Lockheed Martin and Rapiscan. QR can identify about 10,000 different substances including explosives and narcotics using a radio-frequency spectroscopy technique closely related to magnetic resonance imaging, but not requiring magnetic fields and the associated large magnetic field generators. Under the deal, the partners will enhance explosive detection systems to increase detection capability, functionality and reliability.Source: Flight International
