Dr. Alan R. Ford Profile

Dr. Alan R. Ford

Chemist at Alakai Defense Systems Inc

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (8)

Proceedings Article | 4 May 2018 Paper

Deep ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy for eyesafe standoff chemical threat detection

Justin Cooper, Adam Hopkins, Luisa T. Profeta, Alan Ford

Proceedings Volume 10637, 1063714 (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2304469

KEYWORDS: Raman spectroscopy, Sensors, Standoff detection, Charge-coupled devices, Signal to noise ratio, Photons, Raman scattering, CMOS sensors, Cameras, Ultraviolet radiation

Read Abstract +

Chemical threat detection has long been of interest to military, law enforcement, environmental agencies, and forensic investigators. Recently, as the propensity for both foreign and homegrown terrorism, illegal drug manufacture, and concern for environmental regulation continues to grow, the demand for rapid, portable chemical threat detection capabilities has increased dramatically. In particular, the ability to identify chemical threats (explosives, narcotics, toxic industrial chemicals, etc.) at a distance (standoff) is of special interest as it increases the safety of the end user during interrogation. Traditional analytical laboratory techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography or gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry offer excellent sensitivity for detection and identification of trace amounts of threatening material. However, these techniques often lack the portability necessary for remote on-site interrogation as samples must be physically collected and brought to a laboratory for analysis. Vibrational spectroscopic techniques offer both the chemical identification and miniaturization capabilities required for portable, on-site chemical threat detection. Most importantly, spectroscopic techniques are inherently and uniquely standoff, where emitted or scattered photons are collected at some distance from the sample. The challenge then becomes miniaturizing the instrumentation while maximizing the distance at which accurate chemical detection can be made. Here we report on portable chemical threat detection instrumentation developed by Alakai Defense Systems, which employs deep ultra-violet Raman spectroscopy. We discuss the general system aspects such as basic optical design and ambient light rejection techniques. We also present data on the performance capabilities using several substances including actual narcotics and other compounds commonly used as cutting agents. Lastly, we discuss possible future directions including the ability for rapid spectroscopy while maintaining high photon detection sensitivity by employing an intensified scientific CMOS (sCMOS) and the propensity for NIR standoff Raman detection using deep-depletion CCD technology.

Proceedings Article | 12 May 2016 Paper

Recent development of two new UV Raman standoff explosive detection systems

Rob Waterbury, Robert Babnick, Justin Cooper, Alan Ford, Francisco Herrera, Adam Hopkins, Ken Pohl, Luisa T. M. Profeta, Juan Sandoval, Darius Vunck

Proceedings Volume 9824, 98240E (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2224372

KEYWORDS: Raman spectroscopy, Explosives detection, Ultraviolet radiation, Standoff detection, Explosives, Defense systems, Sensors, Control systems, Ultraviolet detectors

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 5 May 2012 Paper

Recent improvements and testing of a check point explosives detection system

Rob Waterbury, Darius Vunck, Adam Hopkins, Ken Pohl, Alan Ford, Ed Dottery

Proceedings Volume 8358, 83580N (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.918580

KEYWORDS: Explosives, Explosives detection, Raman spectroscopy, Eye, Safety, Laser vision correction, Standoff detection, Ultraviolet radiation, Advanced distributed simulations, Sensors

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 4 June 2011 Paper

Fabrication and testing of a standoff trace explosives detection system

Robert Waterbury, Jeremy Rose, Darius Vunck, Thomas Blank, Ken Pohl, Alan Ford, Troy McVay, Ed Dottery

Proceedings Volume 8018, 801818 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.885256

KEYWORDS: Raman spectroscopy, Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, Explosives, Explosives detection, Standoff detection, Ultraviolet radiation, Sensors, Spectrometers, Aluminum, Defense systems

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 5 May 2010 Paper

Extension of a standoff explosive detection system to CBRN threats

Alan Ford, Rob Waterbury, Jeremy Rose, Ken Pohl, Megan Eisterhold, Thelma Thorn, Keesoo Lee, Ed Dottery

Proceedings Volume 7665, 76650Y (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.849815

KEYWORDS: Data modeling, Raman spectroscopy, Explosives, Explosives detection, Chemometrics, Standoff detection, Aluminum, Biological detection systems, Uranium

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 8 May 2009 Paper

Standoff detection of hazardous materials using a novel dual-laser pulse technique: theory and experiments

Alan Ford, Robert Waterbury, Jeremy Rose, Edwin Dottery

Proceedings Volume 7304, 73041C (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.819214

KEYWORDS: Plasma, Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, Explosives, Carbon dioxide lasers, Chemical species, Explosives detection, Aluminum, Carbon dioxide, Ionization, Molecules

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 8 May 2009 Paper

Results of a UV TEPS-Raman energetic detection system (TREDS-2) for standoff detection

Robert Waterbury, Alan Ford, Jeremy Rose, Edwin Dottery

Proceedings Volume 7304, 73041B (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.819211

KEYWORDS: Raman spectroscopy, Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, Standoff detection, Ultraviolet radiation, Plasma, Eye, Safety, Explosives detection, Carbon dioxide lasers, Spectroscopy

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 5 May 2009 Paper

Sensor data fusion for spectroscopy-based detection of explosives

Pratik Shah, Abhijeet Singh, Sanjeev Agarwal, Sahra Sedigh, Alan Ford, Robert Waterbury

Proceedings Volume 7303, 730329 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.819902

KEYWORDS: Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Explosives, Data fusion, Sensors, Explosives detection, Spectroscopy, Improvised explosive devices, Statistical analysis, Fusion energy

Read Abstract +

Showing 5 of 8 publications

View contact details

UPDATE YOUR PROFILE

Is this your profile? Update it now.

Sign into your SPIE.org account

Don’t have a profile and want one?

Create an account on SPIE.org

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years