Standoff explosives-detection technologies allow, in principle, for the detection of pedestrian suicide bombers, although such sensors are not yet sufficiently affordable and reliable to justify widespread deployment. What if they were? Assuming the availability of cheap, perfectly sensitive and specific suicide-bomber-sensing devices, we analyze the operational effectiveness of sensor-based de...

The most common explosives can be uniquely identified by measuring the elemental H/N ratio with a precision better than 10%. Monte Carlo simulations were used to design two variants of a new prompt gamma neutron activation instrument that can achieve this precision. The instrument features an intense pulsed neutron generator with precise timing. Measuring the hydrogen peak from the target explo...

Detecting hidden explosive devices in war zones and transportation hubs is a pressing concern. Current efforts have focused on sensing three commonly used powerful explosives: 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX) and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) (Chart 1). The need for ultratrace detection of these low-volatility compounds has resulted in an intense interest...

Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including s...

The use of ion mobility spectrometry systems to detect explosives in high security situations creates a need to determine compounds that interfere and may compromise accurate detection. This is the first study to identify possible interfering air contaminants common in airport settings by IMS. Seventeen suspected contaminants from four major sources were investigated. Due to the ionization sele...

Over the last decade a large number of weapon systems have appeared that use blast as their primary damage mechanism. This is a notable trend; until recently very few warheads relied on blast as their primary output. Most warheads in service use explosives to drive metal such as fragments and shaped charge jets to engage targets. New technologies are now being integrated into warheads that clai...

High-performance explosives: Tris(triazolo)benzene was synthesized and converted to its trinitro and trichloro derivatives (see scheme; R=NO(2), Cl). The heats of formation of this "high-nitrogen" compounds were calculated and combined with experimentally determined densities to determine detonation pressures and velocities. They exhibit high density, good thermal stability, high heats of forma...

Trinitrotoluene (TNT) absorption was assessed in groups of workers at two explosives factories by measuring the urinary concentrations of dinitroaminotoluene (DNAT) metabolites. DNAT was detected in most of the urine samples analysed and for postshift samples the mean (SD) concentration was 9.7 (7.9) mg/l (range 0.1-44 mg/l (n = 219)). Individual workers showed substantial day to day variations...