Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Experimental Explosive Characterization for Counterterrorist Investigation

  • Published:
Journal of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A THz spectral characterization of different explosives of special interest for the Spanish National Security Forces “Guardia Civil” is presented in this paper. This forensic analysis has been done in the frequency range from 0.060 THz to 3.5 THz using the Teraview TPS Spectra 3000 system in laboratory conditions. With this equipment the refractive index, absorbance and complex permittivity of the explosive samples have been obtained. In this study, some of the most common used explosives (Bullet gunpowder, mine gunpowder, PETN, TNT, RDX) are analysed paying special attention to differences related to the manufacturing process used to elaborate some of them and to the purity of the samples. The different fabrication processes of the explosives lead to the same spectral behaviour and characteristics. At the same time, the inclusion of some additives in the explosive samples does not alter their main electromagnetic properties. The sensitivity limit of the measurement system has been found to be to 10 mg of explosives. These results will be used to design future THz imaging systems that allow to detect and identify them in security and defence applications and/or to complete laboratory studies after a terrorist action.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Choi MK, Bettermann A, Van Der Weide DW, Crompton A, Roskos H, Unterrainer K, et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A (2004) doi: 10.1098/rsta.2003.1319

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ung, B., Balakrishnan J., Fischer B., Ng B. W.– H. and D. Abbott D. Proc. SPIE (2007) doi: 10.1117/12.695716

  3. Yan Z, Hou D, Huang P, Cao B, Zhang G, Zhou Z. Meas. Sci. Technol. (2008) doi:10.1088/0957-0233/19/1/015602

    Google Scholar 

  4. Naftaly M, Miles RE. Proc. IEEE (2007) doi:10.1109/JPROC.2007.898835

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chen J, Chen Y, Zhao H, Bastiaans GJ, Zhang X. Opt Express (2007) doi: 10.1364/OE.15.012060

    Google Scholar 

  6. Shen, Y., Taday, P.F. and Kemp, M.C. Proc. SPIE (2004) doi:10.1117/12.577188

    Google Scholar 

  7. Yamamoto K, Yamaguchi M, Miyamaru F, Tani M, Hangyo M, Ikeda T, et al. J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. (2004) doi: 10.1143/JJAP.43

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kemp MC. IEEE Trans Terahertz Sci Technolog A 1(1):282-292 (2011).

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. Vieweg N, Fischer BM, Reuter M, Kula P, Dabrowski R, Celik MA, Frenking G, Koch M, Jepsen PU Opt Express (2012) doi: 10.1364/OE.20.028249.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hangyo M, Nagashima T, Nashima S. Meas. Sci. Technol. (2002) doi:10.1088/0957-0233/13/11/309

    Google Scholar 

  11. Palka N. Acta Phys Pol A 118(6):1229-1231 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Burnett A., Fan W., Upadhya P., Cunningham J., Edwards H., Munshi T., Hargreaves M., Linfield E., Davies G.; Proc. SPIE (2006) doi:10.1117/12.689389

    Google Scholar 

  13. Duvillaret L, Garet F, Coutaz J. Electron. Lett. (1996) doi: (2004) doi:10.1049/el:20051467

  14. Huang F, Schulkin B, Altan H, Federici JF, Gary D, Barat R, et al. Appl. Phys. Lett. (2004) doi: 10.1063/1.1829793.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Wilkinson J., Caulder S.M., Portieri A. Proc. SPIE (2008) doi:10.1117/12.776681

    Google Scholar 

  16. Allis DG, Zeitler JA, Taday PF, Korter TM. Chem. Phys. Lett. (2008) doi: 10.1016/j.cplett.2008.08.014

    Google Scholar 

  17. Liu H-, Chen Y, Bastiaans GJ, Zhang X. Opt. Express (2006) doi: 10.1364/OPEX.14.000415

    Google Scholar 

  18. Allis DG, Korter TM. ChemPhysChem (2006) doi: 10.1002/cphc.200600456

    Google Scholar 

  19. Leahy-Hoppa MR, Fitch MJ, Zheng X, Hayden LM, Osiander R. Chem. Phys. Lett. (2007) 10.1016/j.cplett.2006.12.015

    Google Scholar 

  20. Federici JF, Schulkin B, Huang F, Gary D, Barat R, Oliveira F, et al. Semicond. Sci. Technol. (2005) doi:10.1088/0268-1242/20/7/018

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Zhao G, Zhang C. Optik (2007) doi: 10.1016/j.ijleo.2006.03.025

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cook, D.J., Decker, B.K., Maislin, G. & Allen, M.G. Proc. SPIE (2004) doi:10.1117/12.525466

    Google Scholar 

  23. Bolivar PH, Brucherseifer M, Rivas JG, Gonzalo R, Ederra I, Reynolds AL, et al. IEEE Trans. Microw. Theory Tech. (2003) doi: 10.1109/tmtt.2003.809693

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  24. Leahy-Hoppa, M.R., Fitch, M.J., Zheng, X., Hayden, L.M. & Osiander, R. Chem. Phys. Lett. (2007) doi: 10.1016/j.cplett.2006.12.015.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Maxwell-Garnett, J.C. 1904, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B, Series A, 203, 385–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Jepsen PU, Fischer BM. Opt. Lett. (2005) doi: 10.1364/OL.30.000029.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Huhn, A.K.Saenz, E.;de Maagt, P.; Bolívar, P.H. IRMMW-THz (2012) doi:10.1109/IRMMW-THz.2012.6379496

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank to the Spanish National Security Force “Guardia Civil” and MAXAM Group for providing explosives samples and for valuable discussion of the presented results. This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness Project Nos.TEC-2009-11995, CSD 2008-00066 and INNPACTO IPT-2011-0960-390000

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Antenna Group. Electric and Electronic Department, Public University of Navarra, 31006, Pamplona, (Navarra), Spain

    D. Etayo, I. Maestrojuan, J. Teniente, I. Ederra & R. Gonzalo

Authors
  1. D. Etayo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. I. Maestrojuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Teniente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. Ederra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Gonzalo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Etayo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Etayo, D., Maestrojuan, I., Teniente, J. et al. Experimental Explosive Characterization for Counterterrorist Investigation. J Infrared Milli Terahz Waves 34, 468–479 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10762-013-9988-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10762-013-9988-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation