Portable detection system for illicit materials based on SAW resonators

The authors describe a new gas chromatography based system utilizing surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators that has been miniaturized into a portable detection system to be used by law enforcement agencies. This system contains all the necessary components for extended operation in a field environment. High flow sampling and short analysis time are coupled to extract extremely small quantities (picograms) of illicit materials from the air for subsequent detection by a 500-MHz SAW resonator. Analysis is performed on site in near real-time (10-15 s). System operating parameters are controlled by a microprocessor which maintains operating temperatures, value timing, sampling and sample injection. All functions of the system are operator programmable from a laptop computer