Spectroscopic and imaging considerations of THz-TDS and ULF-Raman techniques towards practical security applications

Abstract

Nitrogen-containing high-energy organic compounds represent a class of materials with critical implications in various fields, including military, aerospace, and chemical industries. The precise characterization and analysis of these compounds are essential for both safety and performance considerations. Spectroscopic characterization in the far-infrared region has great potential for non-destructive investigation of high energetic and related compounds. This research article presents a comprehensive study of common organic energetic materials in the far-infrared region (5–200 cm-1), aiming to enhance security measures through the utilization of cutting-edge spectroscopic techniques. Broadband terahertz time-domain spectroscopy and ultra-low frequency Raman spectroscopy are employed as powerful tools to probe the vibrational and rotational modes of various explosive materials. One of the key objectives of this present work is unveiling the characteristic spectral features and optical parameters of five common nitrogen based high energy organic compounds towards rapid and accurate identification. Further, we have explored the potential of terahertz reflection imaging for non-contact through barrier sensing, a critical requirement in security applications. Based on the spectral features obtained from the spectroscopic studies and using advanced imaging algorithms we have been able to detect these compounds under various barriers including paper, cloth, backpack, etc. Subsequently, this study highlights the capabilities of the two techniques offering a pathway to enhance their utility over a wide range of practical security applications.