Geoffrey A. Barrall

Variable‐angle correlation spectroscopy in solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonancea)

We describe here a new solid‐state nuclear‐magnetic‐resonance (NMR) experiment for correlating anisotropic and isotropic chemical shifts of inequivalent nuclei in powdered samples. Spectra are obtained by processing signals arising from a spinning sample, acquired in independent experiments as a function of the angle between the axis of macroscopic rotation and the external magnetic field. This is in contrast to previously proposed techniques, which were based on sudden mechanical flippings or multiple‐pulse sequences. We show that the time evolution of variable‐angle‐spinning signals is determined by a distribution relating the isotropic frequencies of the spins with their corresponding chemical shift anisotropies. Fourier transformation of these data therefore affords a two‐dimensional NMR spectrum, in which line shapes of isotropic and anisotropic interactions are correlated. Theoretical and experimental considerations involved in the extraction of this spectral information are discussed, and the techn...

Screening sealed bottles for liquid explosives

A particularly disturbing development affecting transportation safety and security is the increasing use of terrorist devices which avoid detection by conventional means through the use of liquid explosives and flammables. The hazardous materials are generally hidden in wine or liquor bottles that cannot be opened routinely for inspection. This problem was highlighted by the liquid explosives threat which disrupted air traffic between the US an the Far East for an extended period in 1995. Quantum Magnetics has developed a Liquid Explosives Screening systems capable of scanning unopened bottles for liquid explosives. The system can be operated to detect specific explosives directly or to verify the labeled or bar-coded contents of the container. In this system, magnetic resonance (MR) is used to interrogate the liquid. MR produces an extremely rich data set and many characteristics of the MR response can be determined simultaneously. As a result, multiple MR signatures can be defined for any given set of liquids, and the signature complexity then selected according to the level of threat. The Quantum Magnetics Liquid Explosives Screening System is currently operational. Following extensive laboratory testing, a field trial of the system was carried out at the Los Angeles International Airport.

Radio-frequency interference suppression for the quadrupole-resonance confirming sensor

The quadrupole resonance (QR) technology can be used as a confirming sensor for buried plastic landmine detection by detecting the explosives (e.g., TNT and RDX) within the mine. We focus herein on the detection of TNT via the QR sensor. Since the frequency of the QR signal is located within the AM radio frequency band, the QR signal can be corrupted by strong radio frequency interferences (RFIs). Hence to detect the very weak QR signal, RFI mitigation is essential. Reference antennas, which receive RFIs only, can be used together with the main antenna, which receives both the QR signal and the RFIs, for RFI mitigation. By taking advantage of the spatial correlation of the RFIs received by the antenna array, the RFIs can be reduced significantly. However, the RFIs are usually colored both spatially and temporally and hence exploiting only the spatial diversity of the antenna array may not give the best performance. We exploit herein both the spatial and temporal correlation of the RFIs to improve the TNT detection performance. First, we consider exploiting the spatial correlation of the RFIs only and propose a maximum likelihood (ML) estimator for parameter estimation and a constant false alarm rate (CFAR) detector for TNT detection. Second, we adopt a multichannel autoregressive model to take into account the temporal correlation of the RFIs and devise a detector based on the model. Third, we take advantage of the temporal correlation by using a two-dimensional robust Capon beamformer (RCB) with the ML estimator for improved RFI mitigation. Finally, we combine the merits of all of the three aforementioned approaches for TNT detection. The effectiveness of the combined method is demonstrated using the experimental data collected by Quantum Magnetics, Inc.

Advances in the engineering of quadrupole resonance landmine detection systems

Advances in the engineering of Quadrupole Resonance (QR) sensors for landmine detection have resulted in improved performance, as well as massive reductions in power, size and weight. The next generation of vehicle-mounted QR confirmation sensors is over an order of magnitude smaller and more power efficient than the system fielded in 2002 and 2003. Early prototypes have also demonstrated a significant improvement in TNT sensitivity, and similar improvements are anticipated in RDX sensitivity during Q1 2005. Blind test results from 2003 confirm the radio frequency interference and piezo-electric ringing immunity of the Quantum Magnetics QR Confirmation Sensor (QRCS).

Development of a quadrupole resonance confirmation system

Quantum Magnetics has developed a Quadrupole Resonance (QR) system for the detection of anti-tank and anti-vehicle landmines. The QR confirmation sensor (QRCS) is a part of the Army GSTAMIDS Block 1 program and is designed to confirm the presence of landmines initially flagged by a primary sensor system. The ultimate goal is to significantly reduce the number of sites that require neutralization or other time consuming investigation into the presence of a landmine. Government tests in 2002 and 2003 demonstrated the performance of the system in a wide variety of conditions including high radio frequency interference (RFI) and piezo electric ringing (PER) environments. Field test results are presented along with an overall description of the system design and methods used to solve prior issues with RFI and PER.

Field test results of a nuclear quadrupole resonance land mine detection system

We report on field test results conducted during 1999 in Bosnia and at the Army Mine Training School, Fort Leonard Wood, MO, on a ne prototype landmine detection system. In all test, non-metallic, anti-personnel (AP) and anti-tank (AT) landmines were detected via the NQR explosive signature with a probability of detection of 100 percent. The initial false alarm rate for the AP mine test was < 5 percent and was reduced to zero by a subsequent remeasurement. The test included typical burial depths and a variety of ground and weather conditions. In addition, the system can tolerate very high levels of metallic clutter and has repeatedly achieved zero false alarm rate when scanning for buried explosives at an EOD test range.

Non-Invasive Measurement of Prepreg Resin Content Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Preimpregnated composite materials (prepregs) are increasingly used in composites manufacture in a variety of industries [1]. Fibers such as carbon, glass, quartz, or Kevlar™ fiber are coated with an uncured resin such as an epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester or polyimide forming the prepreg. The resulting prepreg material is then used at a later time in the manufacture of a composite structure. The prepreg is pliable and readily arranged into forms. Parts are made by collating plies of the prepreg onto a form or in a mold in a desired arrangement, and then further curing the resin phase of the composite material under heat and pressure. A very common form of prepreg referred to as a prepreg tow consists of long continuous bundles of fiber coated in the resin. An example of a flat prepreg tow is shown in Figure 1.

Polarization enhanced Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance with an atomic magnetometer

Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) has been demonstrated for the detection of 14-N in explosive compounds. Application of a material specific radio-frequency (RF) pulse excites a response typically detected with a wire- wound antenna. NQR is non-contact and material specific, however fields produced by NQR are typically very weak, making demonstration of practical utility challenging. For certain materials, the NQR signal can be increased by transferring polarization from hydrogen nuclei to nitrogen nuclei using external magnetic fields. This polarization enhancement (PE) can enhance the NQR signal by an order of magnitude or more. Atomic magnetometers (AM) have been shown to improve detection sensitivity beyond a conventional antenna by a similar amount. AM sensors are immune to piezo-electric effects that hamper conventional NQR, and can be combined to form a gradiometer for effective RF noise cancellation. In principle, combining polarization enhancement with atomic magnetometer detection should yield improvement in signal-to-noise ratio that is the product of the two methods, 100-fold or more over conventional NQR. However both methods are even more exotic than traditional NQR, and have never been combined due to challenges in operating a large magnetic field and ultra-sensitive magnetic field sensor in proximity. Here we present NQR with and without PE with an atomic magnetometer, demonstrating signal enhancement greater than 20-fold for ammonium nitrate. We also demonstrate PE for PETN using a traditional coil for detection with an enhancement factor of 10. Experimental methods and future applications are discussed.