Standoff detection of natural bioaerosols by range-gated laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy

Sylvie Buteau; Jean-Robert Simard; Gilles Roy

doi:10.1117/12.629604

4 November 2005 Standoff detection of natural bioaerosol by range-gated laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy

Sylvie Buteau, Jean-Robert Simard, Gilles Roy

Proceedings Volume 5995, Chemical and Biological Standoff Detection III; 59950D (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.629604
Event: Optics East 2005, 2005, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

The biological threat has emerged as one of today's primary security challenges due to the increased accessibility to biological warfare technology and the limited efficiency of detection and protection measures against such menace. Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) has investigated various methods, including the improvement of atmospheric bioaerosol monitoring, to increase the readiness against such threat. By the end of the 90s, DRDC developed a standoff bioaerosol sensor based on intensified range-gated spectrometric detection of Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF). This work has showed an important potential of detecting and discriminating in real-time several bioaerosols. The LIDAR system that monitors atmosphere cells from a standoff position induces specific spectrally wide fluorescence signals originating from inelastic interactions with complex molecules forming the building blocks of the bioaerosols. This LIF signal is spectrally collected by a combination of a dispersive element and a range-gated ICCD that records the spectral information within a range-selected atmospheric volume. To assess further the potential of discrimination of such technique, this innovative sensor was used to obtain spectral data of various natural bioaerosols. In order to evaluate the discrimination of biological agent simulants from naturally occurring background fluorescing materials, the obtained results were compared with the ones of bioaerosol simulants (Bacillius subtilis var globiggi (BG) and Erwinia herbicola (EH)) acquired in 2001. The robustness of the spectral data with time was also investigated. From our results, most of the studied natural materials showed a spectral shift of various degrees, and up to 10 nm, to the longer wavelength one year later.

Citation Download Citation

Sylvie Buteau, Jean-Robert Simard, and Gilles Roy "Standoff detection of natural bioaerosol by range-gated laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy", Proc. SPIE 5995, Chemical and Biological Standoff Detection III, 59950D (4 November 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.629604

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