Carol Scarlett

Background:
Numerous applications exist for the development of a quick test for toxins and
chemical hazards. Traditional methods use the emission and absorption
spectra to determine the chemical compositions of samples. These methods
are limited by the size of the sample and the strength of the probing
electromagnetic field. The method proposed here looks to amplify the
changes in an electromagnetic field due to a sample material through utilizing
a mirror cavity system along with an oscillating excitation of the material. This
can allow materials to be identified even where considerable degradation has
occurred. Furthermore, this technology can determine if significant
contaminants exist in an area by meticulously detecting changes in or
displacement of oxygen in an area.

Statement of Problem:
Currently, there is much interest in developing systems that can detect
chemical or biological hazards. In the industry, LiDAR and spectroscopy
provide the major detection mechanism to determine what chemicals are
present in a given sample. Both of these solutions are limited by the amount
of a contaminant that must be present and subject to the need for
considerable infrastructure and time to make a determination. For use in the
field a more compact system is needed.

Potential Solution:
FAMU has developed and is in the process of patenting a system that could
offer considerable advantages in identifying the presence of chemical
contaminants. This system was originally designed to detect minute changes
in the optical properties of atmosphere even down to vacuum levels of ~ 10 -9
Torr. In standard atmospheric conditions, it can be scaled to a small, hand-
held device and still offer an unprecedented range of detection. In a post-
9/11 world, this type of solution could provide the much-needed ability to
detect minute quantities of a designated contaminant.

Commercialization Status:
The system described here, Laser Identification of Matter Through Induced
Splitting (LIMTIS) is currently in the early development stage, and support for
further R&D is currently being sought through the Department of Defense and
the Department of Energy. Future work will focus on the identification of
known samples and calibration of the detector, understanding the limits
presented by sample size and degradation as well as the development of a
small, hand-held device for potential field use. These studies will further
determine efficacy of the technology under field conditions. We are seeking
collaborative partners or licensees in the remote sensing and detection
industry to take these developments into commercialization