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New Sensor Technology Looks at Molecular 'Fingerprint'

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the that's-profiling-and-profiling-is-wrong dept.

New sensor technology developed by engineers at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory can now detect chemical, biological, nuclear, and explosive materials much more quickly and efficiently. From the article: "The millimeter/terahertz technology detects the energy levels of a molecule as it rotates. The frequency distribution of this energy provides a unique and reproducible spectral pattern - its 'fingerprint' - that identifies the material. The technology can also be used in its imaging modality - ranging from concealed weapons to medical applications such as tumor detection."

3 of 113 comments (clear)

  1. Mystery Robot Solved? by HappyClown · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I wonder if this technology is similar to what (might) be being used here:
    Mystery Robot

  2. Not new at all? by nasor · · Score: 3, Informative

    Um...rotational spectroscopy is not new at all. It's been around for a very long time - at least 50 years, probably longer.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotational_spectrosco py

    1. Re:Not new at all? by ergo98 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Um...rotational spectroscopy is not new at all. It's been around for a very long time - at least 50 years, probably longer.

      Maybe you should read the article first. The breakthrough is the extreme degree of sensitivity, coupled with the fact that it's doing the analysis passively (versus targeting molecules with lasers/microwaves).