US 7,023,545 B2 · Chemical identification by flash spectroscopy

Abstract

A light source produces a pump wave that is used to pump a parametric device. The parametric device is configured at or near its degeneracy point and produces a broadband output. The broadband output is directed to a remote location where chemical agents may be located. The broadband output may be transmitted through or scattered from the remote location and chemical agents located at the remote location may absorb portions of the broadband output. The broadband output may be collected and dispersed to produce channels or sub-bands that are detected by a detector array. The detector array may multiplex the intensities of the sub-bands and produce an absorption spectrum. The absorption spectrum may be compared to a library of known chemical agents and the presence of a chemical agent at the remote location can be determined in or near real time.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A flash spectroscopy standoff chemical detection system comprising:

a light source;
a parametric device configured to receive a pump wave from said light source at a degeneracy point of said parametric device;
a broadband output produced by said parametric device, wherein said broadband output is transmitted to a remote location and wherein said broadband output has a bandwidth or linewidth with a full-width half-maximum value of about 5 percent to about 25 percent of a central broadband output wavelength;
and
a spectrometer operable to receive said broadband output from said remote location and to produce an absorption spectrum.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Chemical identification by flash spectroscopy

Life of this patent

Chemical identification by flash spectroscopy

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims44