1. Optics and Photonics: Keystone Technologies for Sensors in Homeland Security
Dennis Killinger
Professor of Physics
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
Ph(813)
(Presentation to Congressional R&D Caucus, Oct )
Only Include Your name and affiliation on this slide. No company logo – that should be on the final slide.

2. Main Theme
“Optics and Photonics is a dominant enabling technology in Bio-Chemical Agent Detection and Surveillance for Homeland Security”

3. Theme supported by National Academy/NRC Study
National Academy Press (1998)
Optics is Enabler for New Sensors
Materials is Enabler for New Optics

4. What is Optics and Photonics?
Conventional View
1. Lens for visual Images
(telescope, camera, eye glasses, microscopes, videocam)
But also includes
2. Optical Spectroscopy:
Different chemicals and substances absorb and emit light of different colors or wavelengths
3. Lasers: coherent light source
Can focus to 1 million times smaller than flashlight
1 billion times more powerful than searchlight
4. Photonics
Control of information contained within laser photons

5. Example of Optical Spectroscopy: Transmission of light through the atmosphere
Path length 100 yds
Wavelength (microns)
Visible Wavelengths:
Human eye sees 0.4 micron (blue) to 0.7 micron (red)
(micron = 1/100 human hair)
Near IR wavelengths: Absorption lines due to water , oxygen, carbon dioxide

6. Example of Optical Spectroscopy: Colors Emitted by Neon Gas Discharge Tube
Diffraction grating (or Prism) displays unique colors of Neon glowing in Gas Tube
Wavelengths are unique to Neon
Each chemical or substance may have a unique spectral signature
Can be used to identify substance

7. What good is Optical Spectroscopy?
We detect the Ozone Hole by optical spectra
Measure Gases on Mars by spectroscopy
“100% of medical tests done on blood, urine, etc. at a commercial medical lab use optical absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy” *
* Dr. K. Patel, Medical Director: Quest Diagnostics Laboratory/Tampa

8. Optics Used for Homeland Security
Examples
1. Detection of DNA samples
2. Compact Laser Fluorescence system for Anthrax detection
3. Secure laser beam data communication
4. Laser Illuminator Cameras

9. 1. Laser Readers Map DNA Sequence
DNA fragments marked by fluorescence tags
AGCT tagged by one of four colored dyes
Laser focused to micro-arrays and reads dye color
(from Hitachi DNA Sequencer information)

10. Example of DNA Sequencer and output code read by laser scanner
Sample prep and measurements may take 6 to 12 hrs

11. 2. RAPTOR Instrument for Anthrax Detection
Laser Induced Fluorescence
Tapered Plastic Waveguide Coated with Fluorescent Tagged Antigen
Detection: 100 to 10,000 spores (10,000 spores deadly)
Takes 10 minutes: Mixes and extracts sample

12. RAPTOR: Throw-away Plastic optical waveguide
Developed at Naval Research Laboratory (NRL): Dr. F. Ligler)
Technology Transferred CRADA to Research International
Testing by US Army and USF (Prof. Dan Lim)

13. 3. Secure Laser beam communication
Atmospheric laser communication system (Terabeam, Inc.) used to re-establish high-speed data communication between Merrill Lynch Brokerage and Wall Street after 9/11 attack.

14. 4. Optical Imaging for Security Applications
Night Vision cameras:
Low light level (still visible wavelengths)
Thermal images (infrared/low resolution)
THz imaging: penetrates through clothes
Laser Illuminator Cameras

15. Example: Laser Illuminator Video Camera Pursuit Engineering (From FORD Motor Co. Research)
IR Laser Illuminator invisible to human eye
Penetrates fog, dust, debris better than visible light
Search and Rescue and underwater surveillance

16. Comparison of Commonly Used Fire and Rescue FLIR Thermal Camera and New Laser illuminator Camera
Image from FLIR Thermal Camera currently used by Fire and Rescue Teams
Same Image as seen by New Laser Illuminator Camera
Cameras used by Search and Rescue team inside collapsed dormitory building in Oklahoma City (no lights): Prof. Robin Murphy (SSR-RC)
Laser Illuminator shows much finer detail (can see under bed)

17. Additional Optics Related Research for Homeland Security
Optical remote sensing of explosives and chemical agents
Sensor Swarms: nano-optics
Detect pathogens in water and food
Positive ID tags: coded beacons
Surveillance: Multi-wavelength cameras
“Eavesdrop Proof” photon quantum codes for laser communication

18. Summary
Optics and Photonics is Keystone Science behind most chemical sensors and security imaging systems for Homeland Security
Future advances are dependent upon new optical science and new materials being developed