{"id":117,"date":"2017-12-12T13:00:52","date_gmt":"2017-12-12T13:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/?p=117"},"modified":"2026-02-09T20:18:58","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T20:18:58","slug":"explosives-identification-using-raman-technology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/explosives-identification-using-raman-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Explosives Identification Using Raman Technology"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ExplosivesRapid, precise identification of explosives is one of the key tasks for homeland security and public safety personnel, especially with the marked increase of improvised explosive device (IED) usage worldwide. Portable X-ray devices and trained canines assist first responders in determining the presence and location of explosives, but are not effective in the identification of unknown explosive materials. Instruments that can be used in the field to rapidly and accurately identify various explosives— and their precursors—are essential tools for bomb technicians responsible for the safety and security of the community.<\/p>\n

Some of these tools use Raman spectroscopy<\/a>, a technology that enables users to safely analyze explosive materials through sealed translucent containers without disturbing the sample. This capability is particularly important for bomb technicians who want to avoid contact with a sample whenever possible. Chemical Identification analyzers<\/a> using Raman can recognize thousands of potential explosives including: TATP (triacetone triperoxide), ammonium nitrate, TNT (trinitrotoluene), RDX (cyclonite) and HMTD (hexamethylene triperoxidediamine). Additionally, these instruments are capable of identifying explosive precursors in liquid mixtures including: hydrogen peroxide, fuel oil, acetone, sulfuric acid and more.<\/p>\n

With Raman technology<\/a>, an unknown sample of material is illuminated with monochromatic (single wavelength or single frequency) laser light, which can be absorbed, transmitted, reflected, or scattered by the sample. Light scattered from the sample is due to either elastic collisions of the light with the sample’s molecules (Rayleigh scatter) or inelastic collisions (Raman scatter). Whereas Rayleigh scattered light has the same frequency (wavelength) of the incident laser light, Raman scattered light returns from the sample at different frequencies corresponding to the vibrational frequencies of the bonds of the molecules in the sample.<\/p>\n

Since the bonds for every molecule are different, the Raman scattering for every molecule is also different. Thus, a Raman spectral “fingerprint” can be generated by recording the intensity of light as a function of the frequency difference between the laser and Raman scattered light.<\/p>\n

In a typical powdered substance, the intensity Raman scattering is roughly 10 million times less than the intensity of Rayleigh scattered light, and therefore very sensitive instrumentation is needed for Raman spectroscopy.<\/p>\n

To aid in identification, the device collects the molecular fingerprint of an unknown sample, and then compares the substance against the onboard chemical library, typically providing results in a matter of seconds. Raman instruments excel at identifying liquids, gels, pastes and light colored solid materials. (Raman technology utilizes a focused laser, which can heat some energetic materials, so proper safety protocols should be followed to ensure operator safety.)<\/p>\n

This technology can provide specific actionable data to first responders, EOD and CBRNE teams, because explosives, precursors and improvised explosive devices can be identified quickly, right in the hazard zone.<\/p>\n

There are also instruments that utilize FTIR spectroscopy<\/a>, and some that integrate both FTIR and Raman technologies<\/a> in one instrument.  You can read more about these technologies in the Application Note: Explosive Identification using Raman and FTIR<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rapid, precise identification of explosives is one of the key tasks for homeland security and public safety personnel, especially with the marked increase of improvised explosive device (IED) usage worldwide. Portable X-ray devices and trained canines assist first responders in determining the presence and location of explosives, but are not effective in the identification of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":500,"featured_media":116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[165,3],"tags":[],"division":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-117","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hazardous-materials-hazmat","8":"category-public-safety","9":"entry"},"_selected_authors":[1367],"_selected_reviewers":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nExplosives Identification Using Raman Technology - Identifying Threats<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/explosives-identification-using-raman-technology\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Explosives Identification Using Raman Technology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Rapid, precise identification of explosives is one of the key tasks for homeland security and public safety personnel, especially with the marked increase of improvised explosive device (IED) usage worldwide. 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To strengthen local emergency preparedness, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA announced $648 million in new funding opportunities designed to support fire departments and first responder organizations\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)"","block_context":{"text":"Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT)","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/hazardous-materials-hazmat\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fire department truck in emergency in New York streets.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-482707146.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2910,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/national-police-week-advancing-officer-safety-through-rapid-threat-identification\/","url_meta":{"origin":117,"position":1},"title":"National Police Week: Advancing Officer Safety Through Rapid Threat Identification","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"May 13, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Introduction Every year, National Police Week recognizes the service, sacrifice, and commitment of law enforcement professionals who protect communities under increasingly complex and dangerous conditions. The week serves as both a remembrance for fallen officers and an acknowledgment of the evolving risks faced by modern policing. This year, National Police\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drug Enforcement & Narcotics"","block_context":{"text":"Drug Enforcement & Narcotics","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/illegal-drugs-and-narcotics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"National Police Week poster, card.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/05\/iStock-2209519653.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2676,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/evolving-approaches-to-cbrne-and-radiation-threat-preparedness\/","url_meta":{"origin":117,"position":2},"title":"Evolving Approaches to CBRNE and Radiation Threat Preparedness\u00a0","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"November 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A Persistent and Expanding Challenge\u00a0 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high yield Explosives (CBRNE) hazards are no longer confined to rare or extreme scenarios\u2014they represent persistent risks in both domestic and international theaters. Chemical agents and toxic industrial chemicals pose danger in urban conflict zones and critical infrastructure. Radiological and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Nuclear & Radiation"","block_context":{"text":"Nuclear & Radiation","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/radiation\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Abstract digital concept atomic futuristic virtual graphic touch user interface with radioactive danger sign in circle and place for text","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/11\/iStock-677412062_radiation.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2667,"url":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/how-arkansas-combats-the-opioid-crisis-with-advanced-raman-technology\/","url_meta":{"origin":117,"position":3},"title":"How Arkansas Combats the Opioid Crisis with Advanced Raman Technology","author":"Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane","date":"October 21, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The ongoing opioid crisis poses a significant challenge for law enforcement and public health agencies across the United States. With the proliferation of new and dangerous substances, traditional methods of drug identification and intervention often fall short. The Arkansas Opioid Recovery Project\u2019s (ARORP) Sentinel Project leverages cutting-edge drug analyzers that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drug Enforcement & Narcotics"","block_context":{"text":"Drug Enforcement & Narcotics","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/illegal-drugs-and-narcotics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Crime concept. 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States, local governments, tribal entities, and other plaintiffs have filed thousands of lawsuits alleging that organizations across the opioid supply chain contributed to opioid misuse and addiction. As of January 2025, these\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drug Enforcement & Narcotics"","block_context":{"text":"Drug Enforcement & Narcotics","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/illegal-drugs-and-narcotics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A multiple exposure of a wooden gavel and a long row of Tuscan order columns. 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Among the most concerning of these are nitazenes, a class of opioids first synthesized in the 1950s but never approved for medical use.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Drug Enforcement & Narcotics"","block_context":{"text":"Drug Enforcement & Narcotics","link":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/illegal-drugs-and-narcotics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Handcuffed, drugs with handcuffs, the concept of drugs and crime","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/10\/iStock-1347646224_Nitazenes-e1759520545211.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/admin.acceleratingscience.com\/identifying-threats\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2017\/12\/istock-178449290_bombtech.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/500"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=117"},{"taxonomy":"division","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thermofisher.com\/blog\/identifying-threats\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/division?post=117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}