OSA - Optical Society of America
10/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/03/2024 12:15
Researchers speed up buried object detection with multi-beam laser sensor
03 October 2024
Researchers speed up buried object detection with multi-beam laser sensor
New laser-acoustic technology promising for faster, more efficient detection of landmines and other underground hazards
WASHINGTON - Researchers have shown that a recently developed 2D-array laser multibeam sensor can be used for laser-acoustic detection of buried objects such as landmines. This new approach could make it faster and less cumbersome to detect various underground objects.
Vyacheslav Aranchuk from the University of Mississippi will present this research at the Optica Laser Congress and Exhibition, held 20 - 24 October 2024 in Osaka, Japan.
"Detection of buried landmines presents a serious challenge to fast and accurate interrogation of large areas," said Aranchuk. "Our new device overcomes this challenge by measuring the vibration response of the ground to acoustic or seismic stimuli in multiple points simultaneously over the entire interrogation area. Simultaneous measurements allow for very fast vibration imaging and detection of buried objects. Besides detecting landmines the developed sensor can be used for non-destructive inspection and testing in aerospace and automotive industry, for assessing vibrations of bridges an structures, and to study materials."
In order to use laser-acoustic detection to find buried objects, vibration is first created in the ground and then a laser vibration sensor is used to acquire a vibration image of the ground surface. However, the traditional laser Doppler vibrometers used for ground vibration sensing require a stationary platform because they are sensitive to the motion of the vibrometer itself. It is also time consuming for traditional laser Doppler vibrometers to obtain a vibration image of the ground surface by scanning a single beam or a linear array of beams due to slow scanning speed.
Figure 1. Vibration image of a buried landmine obtained with a 34 x 23 array of laser beams.
To improve laser-acoustic detection, the researchers tested the ability of a newly developed 2D-array laser multi-beam differential interferometric sensor (LAMBDIS) to detect buried objects. This sensor acquires fast vibration images by simultaneously measuring the vibration velocity difference between points on the ground surface over the entire area of interest illuminated by a 34 x 23 array of laser beams. This approach also makes it possible to calculate the vibration phase and instantaneous velocity. Additionally, LAMBDIS exhibits low sensitivity to the motion of the sensor itself.
The researchers performed experiments by using the LAMBDIS to detect buried objects using both airborne sound and seismic wave vibration excitation techniques. The experiments demonstrated the ability of the 2D-array LAMBDIS to provide rapid detection of buried objects using broadband acoustic or seismic techniques to create vibration. "Investigation of the performance of the sensor for detection of different buried objects and for different soil conditions is currently underway, said Aranchuk".
About the Optica Laser Congress and Exhibition
The Optica Laser Congress and Exhibition provides a comprehensive view of the latest advances in solid-state laser development and new applications. Beyond innovations in laser technology, the congress will also cover new science made possible by ultra-high brightness and high-power radiation sources, sources and devices for free space and quantum communications, LIDAR for autonomous vehicles, beam steering, materials processing and laser manufacturing. An accompanying exhibition features the latest products resulting from these advances.
About Optica
Optica, Advancing Optics and Photonics Worldwide, is the society dedicated to promoting the generation, application, archiving and dissemination of knowledge in the field. Founded in 1916, it is the leading organization for scientists, engineers, business professionals, students and others interested in the science of light. Optica's renowned publications, meetings, online resources and in-person activities fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate scientific, technical and educational achievement. Discover more at: Optica.org
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