Laser optoacoustic absorption spectra for various explosive vapors.

Optoacoustic absorption spectra, using a CO(2) laser source, is reported for ethylene glycol dinitrate, 2, 4 dinitrotoluene, and nitrogylcerine vapors in a nitrogen background. Strong absorption was measured at all seventy-seven laser transitions in the 9.6-microm and 10.6-microm regions. Absorption coefficient data, necessary to evaluate performance as an explosive detector, were obtained for ethylene glycol dinitrate. The strongest feature showed a value of 7.42 atm(-1) cm(-1) giving a minimum detection sensitivity of 8.26 ppb W.