Landmine detection using stimulated infrared imaging

As part of a continuing evaluation of new technologies for landmine detection, work has been carried out at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission to determine the effectiveness of stimulated infrared imaging in locating buried mines and minelike objects. This paper reports on part of this work, which attempts to compare passive (that is, solar radiation-produced) images with those obtained using artificial stimulation: in particular, high-power microwave (HPM) radiation. The advantages of HPM, and some practical difficulties, are discussed. Results from both laboratory and field measurements are described. Images are compared in terms of the temperature contrast between the image and the surrounding area. Microwave stimulation appears to be capable of providing a thermal contrast at times of day when solar radiation alone gives none. The paper also describes results of infrared measurements made over buried mines containing explosive material and surrogates containing a filler in order to evaluate the apparent differences in the thermal image obtained. First results show that the surrogates exhibit a similar behavior to that of the real mine under the same conditions