Researchers have created a laser capable of detecting minute traces of hazardous chemical or explosive residue ten metres away, while being safe to use on humans.
The laser emits a single beam of two pulses of light. The first pulse resonates with chemical frequencies found in explosives, while the second serves as a reference point. The presence of hazardous chemicals is revealed by a lack of balance between the pulses.
The findings will potentially revolutionise airport security measures, researchers suggesting the scanning process would quickly and accurately produce an image of the chemical’s exact location.
Read more at Michigan State University, Harvard University