Detection of vapour explosives by a multi-sensor prototype-performance evaluation under laboratory and real conditions

This paper depicts the performances of a multi-sensor prototype on explosive vapor detection. The responses of the device in laboratory conditions but also in real life conditions were evaluated. Explosive precursors, explosive compositions and taggants were detected independently and under complex conditions, in presence of interfering compounds. Indeed, an efficient detector should detect small quantities of explosive in a realistic environment. It should also be selective to explosives and exhibit a very low level of false alarms when used in presence of benign substances or objects.