Multipath Extinction Detector (MPED)
Point detection of chemical aerosols and vapors
Capability Description: The MPED provides sensitive and selective detection of chemical vapors across the LWIR fingerprint region by accumulating 4 m of pathlength into an 80 mm diameter sample cell. By simultaneously measuring transmission spectra across a multitude of wavelengths and pathlengths, this approach also rejects common mode noise sources like laser power variation, resulting in 1 mg/m3 sensitivity levels for many chemicals with a 1 Hz update rate. The system can be operated in open-path mode (vapors only) or in conjunction with an aerosol to vapor (A2V) converter to concentrate and vaporize aerosolized chemicals.
Key Features
- Detection, identification, and quantification of measured chemicals
- Sensitive detection from pathlengths up to 4 m
- Selectivity from broad spectral coverage over fingerprint region
- Broad dynamic range from span of measured pathlengths
- Rapid response with 1 s updates
- Open path and sampling configurations
- Optional sample cell heating up to 225 °C
Benefit to Warfighter
MPED provides a powerful chemical detection capability in a compact, fieldable package supporting live detection of chemical threats. MPED further offers rapid cleardown, supporting assessment of mitigation measures and monitoring of safety boundaries.
