Study level

  • Honours
  • Vacation research experience scheme

Faculty/School

Faculty of Science

School of Chemistry and Physics

Topic status

We're looking for students to study this topic.

Research centre

Supervisors

Professor Esa Jaatinen
Position
Director of Graduate Research Education and Development
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science
Associate Professor Emad Kiriakous
Position
Associate Professor in Forensic Science
Division / Faculty
Faculty of Science

Overview

Raman scattering has been used as a powerful 'fingerprinting' technique for more than 80 years, and is widely used by security and law enforcement for detecting hazardous threats. To better safeguard the community, QUT has developed a unique eye -safe laser Raman sensing system for detecting threats, that works at distance from a target (> 10 m) and operates in real time. Increasingly however, threats are being concealed in order to avoid detection. This project will investigate what range of materials the QUT Raman sensor system can ‘see through’ whilst still making a positive identification of the concealed agent. This will involve studying the light material interaction which will then be used to identify possible strategies to defeat the concealing container.

Research activities

In this project you will:

  • be working in QUTs Laser Sensing Laboratory with a team consisting of academic, post-doctoral and higher degree researchers. 
  • use QUT's Eye-Safe Stand-Off Raman laser system for detecting compounds.
  • set up optical experiments to test your ideas and gather data.
  • analyze the results through existing electromagnetic theories for understanding light transmission and Raman Spectroscopy.
  • present and discuss your results at regular team meetings which will inform strategies for defeating the concealing agent.
  • prepare written reports of your results that will be incorporated into papers and other research outputs.

Outcomes

  1. Determine the type and composition of the materials that the laser can penetrate.
  2. Determine the impact that the concealing container has on the stand-off range of the Raman sensor system.
  3. Identify strategies for defeating the concealing agent.

Skills and experience

This project involves a blend of theoretical and experimental activities with the proportion determined through your background and interests. Some experience in optics or physics in general is desirable but not essential. Data analysis and report writing will require familiarity with standard computing packages (eg. Word, excel, etc) and experience with MatLab would be helpful.

Keywords

Contact

Contact the supervisor for more information.