PHYSICAL SCIENCES INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase II: CBD171-004

Description

Physical Sciences, Inc. (PSI) is developing a novel multi-path extinction detector (M-PED) for the identification and quantification of vapor phase chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. M-PED functions by pairing broadband quantum cascade lasers with a sample cell designed to simultaneously measure chemical absorption at multiple pathlengths.  These pathlength samples are angularly separated in one dimension, such that a diffraction grating can be used to measure wavelength data in the orthogonal dimension using a compact, low-cost microbolometer array.  The resulting data matrix is fit to Beer’s Law to estimate chemical concentration.  M-PED is projected to meet the Aerosol Vapor Chemical Agent Detector (AVCAD) performance specifications for vapor sensitivity, unit size, weight, power and cost. The goal of the proposed effort is three-fold: to extend M-PED capability to incorporate aerosol detection and quantification, to mature the technology platform and to test prototype performance against live agents. The outcome of this effort will be an initial TRL 5 demonstration, supporting evaluation of the M-PED technology as a spiral upgrade to the current AVCAD program. This effort will encompass aerosol modeling, prototype refinement, test performance at the CBC surety lab and evaluation of the resulting data.