Lansing has several claims to fame. One that locals may be less aware of is the city’s reputation as the location of most innovative research and application of ultrafast lasers in the world. It should have been no surprise then for the US Army to approach
MSU chemistry professor and founder of BioPhotonic Solutions Marcos Dantus in 2007 to determine if his work with lasers could produce a detection technique for explosives.
Four years later, the technology has been both developed and proven to be effective.
“The method seems to have very good sensitivity and selectivity and uses fairly low laser power,” says Dantus, whose work was recently published in Applied Physics Letters.
The importance of such technology virtually goes without saying. Around 60 percent of coalition soldiers’ deaths are due to IEDs, which can be detected by the lasers. The technology consists of a laser beam that combines short pulses to kick certain molecules found in explosives and make them vibrate. Long pulses are then used to identify the different “chords” called by the vibrations. In addition, the high-sensitivity laser works with cameras for use at a safe distance.
“It is very unfortunate, but the need for detecting explosives is one that is relevant for conflict areas as well as any other place where people gather,” says Marcos. “I hope this technology will help save lives some day.”
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