JMAR demonstrates LIBS laser for analyzing hazardous materials
July 30, 2007, San Diego, CA--JMAR Technologies has successfully completed a demonstration of its man-portable, double-pulse laser technology intended for real-time spectrochemical hazard analysis.
According to the company, the demonstration was a major milestone in the Phase II SBIR award from the Army, which resulted from an earlier Phase I feasibility study on using a single laser to produce the needed double pulse. JMAR was the only contractor selected for a Phase II contract to design and build such a laser, based on its proprietary BriteLight laser technology for producing intense plasmas. The JMAR prototype exceeded the Army Research Laboratory's stand-off distance performance specs by a factor of two.
Utilizing a unique combination of high-power and high-brightness, this successful outcome promises to increase the number of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) applications. Employing the double pulse (DP) capability, DP-LIBS allows the detection and identification of very small (femtogram) traces of hazardous materials such as explosives and drugs, at close contact and stand-off distances, as well as related applications including forensics, biological contaminant detection, and agricultural analysis, such as crops being over or under fertilized.
"We're pleased by the ability of our redesigned Britelight laser to substantially increase the optical signal for LIBS. The potential impact covers multiple critical military missions," said Neil Beer, CEO and president of JMAR, "If the Army elects to implement DP-LIBS, coupled with the commercial and national defense applications, it represents a significant opportunity for the company."