Detection of Explosive RDX using Parallel Plate Waveguide THz-TDS

Abstract

-In this paper we presented the detection of the explosive material RDX using a parallel plate waveguide (PPWG) THz time domain spectroscopy (TDS). Normally the explosive materials have been characterized through identification of vibrational fingerprint spectra. Until now, most of all THz spectroscopic measurements have been made using pellet samples where disorder effects contribute to line broadening such that individual resonances merge into relatively broad absorption features. In order to avoid such disadvantages we used the technique of PPWG THz-TDS to achieve sensitive characterization of explosive material RDX. The PPWG THz-TDS used in this work well established ultrafast optoelectronic techniques to generate and detect sub-picosecond THz pulses. The explosive material was analyzed as powder layers in 112 ㎛ gap of metal PPWG. The thin later mass was estimated to be about 700 ㎍. Finally, we showed spectra of explosives from 0.2 to 2.4 THz measured using PPWG THz-TDS.