Frequency Agile Sensor for Trace Explosives Detection

In collaboration with Sandia National Laboratory, Physical Sciences Inc (PSI) proposes to design, develop, and demonstrate a Frequency Agile Terahertz Sensor (FATS) for trace explosives residue detection. The critical frequency agile terahertz (THz) detector is based on an electronically tunable plasmonic grating-gate technology developed by our collaborators at Sandia. Phase I will further improve the performance of the FAT detector, validate this approach with laboratory demonstrations of the key elements, and refine the design of a complete system model that will be fabricated and demonstrated in Phase II. BENEFIT: The end result of Phase II of this program will be a prototype sensor for trace explosives residue detection. In addition to the national security benefit of an improved response to the on-going terrorist threat of improvised explosives, this project will also advance the state of the art of an innovative detector technology. Because of its frequency agility, small size, and compatibility with standard semiconductor processing, this novel detector has the potential to combine spectroscopic capability with focal plane imaging in the far-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum.