Vapour and Trace Detection of Explosives for Anti-Terrorism Purposes: Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, held in Moscow, Russia, 19-20 ... II: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry)

The fast detection of explosives from the vapor phase would be one way to enhance the protection of society against terrorist attacks. Up to now the problem of detection of explosives, especially the location of explosives whether at large areas e. g. station halls, theaters or hidden in cars, aircraft cargo, baggage or explosives hidden in crowds e. g. suicide bombers or bombs in bags has not been solved. Smelling of explosives like dogs do seems to be a valuable tool for a security chain. In general different strategies can be adopt to the basic problem of explosive detection: • bulk detection • vapor detection Normally meetings cover both aspects and applications of the detection. Even though both methods might fulfill special aspects of a general security chain the underlying scientific questions differ strongly. Because of that the discussions of the scientists and practitioners from the different main directions are sometimes only less specific. Therefore the NATO Advisory Panel in Security-Related Civil Science and Technology proposed a small series of NATO ARW's which focuses on the different scientific aspects of explosives detection methods. This book is based on material presented at the first NATO ARW of this series in Moscow which covered the topic: Vapor and trace detection of explosives. The second ARW was held in St. Petersburg and treated the topic Bulk detection methods. The third workshop was held in Warwick and focused on electronic noses which cover a somewhat different aspect of vapor detection. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Vapor Detection of Explosives for Counter-Terrorism....Pages 1-9 Methods of Detection of Vapors and Traces of Explosives: A Modern Condition and Perspectives of Researches and Development....Pages 11-15 Detection of Explosives for Terrorist-Bombs and Landmine Clearance Different Applications of Similar Methods....Pages 17-21 Vapour and Trace Detection of Explosives....Pages 23-30 Analysis of Explosive Vapour Emission to Guide the Development of Vapour Detectors....Pages 31-42 Development and Characterization of Explosive Standards for Training and Testing of Vapor-Phase-Detectors....Pages 43-50 Tracking the Terrorists: Identification of Explosive Residues in Post-Explosion Debris by LC/MS Methods....Pages 51-62 Remote Explosive Scent Tracing....Pages 63-68 Detection of Traces of Explosives by Means of Sniffing Dogs....Pages 69-77 New Drift Spectrometer with the Surfase Ionization of the Organic Molecules....Pages 79-86 High-Speed Gas Analysis for Explosives Detection....Pages 87-99 Novel Technique for Ultra Sensitive Detection of Organic Compounds....Pages 101-112 The Analytical Characteristics of Ion Mobility Increment Spectrometer During The Detection of Explosive Vapours and Products of Their Degradation....Pages 113-121 Potentials and Requirements of an Electronic Nose for Use as a Vapor-Based Detector of Explosive Packages....Pages 123-131 Detection of Explosives Residues on Aircraft Boarding Passes....Pages 133-142 Freight Screening — Trace Detection....Pages 143-152

Up to now so called ‘sniffer’ dogs are the most successful and widespread systems for the explosives detection at airports and in public areas. Dogs are able to detect explosives under various conditions. On the other hand dogs are living beings and their behavior and skills are influenced by numerous parameters (e.g. age, sex, trainer, daily condition, etc.). To overcome these problems concerning the detection of explosives and illicit substances by dogs’ chemical sensors seemed to be a valuable alternative for this application and therefore a valuable tool in counter terrorism.

The presented papers are an outcome of an NATO ARW which was hold in Moscow and cover different aspects of vapour and trace detection of explosive. Starting from different scenarios (airport security, inspection of large areas, freight screening, boarding passes, etc.) and taking into account the capability of dogs the chances of and demands on chemical sensors are discussed in view of their possible application. Several papers highlight the capability and possibilities of different methods and devices for the vapour detection of explosives (drift MS, high speed gas analyzers, ion mobility increment spectrometer, etc.). Information about the post explosion identification of explosives by LC/MS and the development of explosive standards for dog training and sensor testing are presented also.

Up to now so called sniffer dogs are the most successful and widespread systems for the explosives detection at airports and in public areas. Dogs are able to detect explosives under various conditions. On the other hand dogs are living beings and their behavior and skills are influenced by numerous parameters (e.g. age, sex, trainer, daily condition, etc.). To overcome these problems concerning the detection of explosives and illicit substances by dogs chemical sensors seemed to be a valuable alternative for this application and therefore a valuable tool in counter terrorism. The presented papers are an outcome of an NATO ARW which was hold in Moscow and cover different aspects of vapour and trace detection of explosive. Starting from different scenarios (airport security, inspection of large areas, freight screening, boarding passes, etc.) and taking into account the capability of dogs the chances of and demands on chemical sensors are discussed in view of their possible application. Several papers highlight the capability and possibilities of different methods and devices for the vapour detection of explosives (drift MS, high speed gas analyzers, ion mobility increment spectrometer, etc.). Information about the post explosion identification of explosives by LC/MS and the development of explosive standards for dog training and sensor testing are presented also The September 11th disaster on the twin towers was one of the most horrible terrorist attacks worldwide.