Detection of Explosives

The detection of explosives is a research area of the utmost importance for maintaining the safety and security of the population. For this purpose, optical methods are well suited as they allow in situ, nondestructive and contact-free detection of gaseous species. Distinct photonic sensor devices for the detection of explosives are described, taking into account their suitability for applications in real environments, where high sensitivity, selectivity, fast response and low false-alarm rate are of great importance. The presented sensing approaches are based on different operation principles, all relying on the interaction of light with the hazardous substances in both the gaseous and condensed phases.