Hyperspectral microscopy of explosives particles using an external cavity quantum cascade laser

Using infrared hyperspectral imaging, microscopy of small particles of the explosives compounds RDX, tetryl, and PETN with near diffraction-limited performance is demonstrated. The custom microscope apparatus includes an external cavity quantum cascade laser illuminator scanned over its tuning range of 9.13 to 10.53 μm in 4 s, coupled with a microbolometer focal plane array to record infrared transmission images. The hyperspectral microscopy technique is used to study the infrared absorption spectra of individual explosives particles, and demonstrate subnanogram detection limits.