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| Photo: Erika Fish, QUT |
Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology are working on a project that could revolutionise airport security systems.
Dr Dmitri Gramotnev, a lecturer in QUT’s School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, is heading a team working in the field of nano-focusing technology.
The research has discovered that plasmonic waveguides, or special metallic structures, can focus light into nanoscale regions, a technique not possible using the conventional optics technology.
The QUT team has found a way of using this technology for detecting residual vapours of chemicals, explosives and biological agents with minimum interference to passengers.
Miniscule amounts of residue from chemicals or other agents used for making explosives remain on the person who has used them for a long period of time as well as on other materials that have been handled. The current detection technique at airports involves security personnel brushing a piece of tape over suspect luggage and then taking the tape away for analysis. However, this approach is relatively slow, may be intrusive, and does not allow routine screening of all passengers and their luggage.
The system being investigated by the QUT researchers means the detection of chemicals or other suspicious materials would become an accepted practice at airports, just like the existing system for detecting metallic objects on passengers or in their hand luggage.
"As passengers passed through the specified gateway, a suction system would take air samples around them and these samples would be analysed immediately using the developed metallic nano-structures," says Dr Gramotnev.
"If suspicious material was found, the system would sound an alarm, similar to the "beep" that activates when a metal object is detected. A separate system could be installed for the monitoring of large items of luggage."
The proposed system would save time and staff resources and would mean all passengers, airline personnel and baggage could be tested.
Dr Gramotnev hopes to have a laboratory prototype in place within three or four years.
Last reviewed 29 January 2007