Rapid and Instantaneous Spectroscopic Authentication of Valuable Documents: Development of a SSRTP-based Smart Anti-Counterfeiting Optical System
Abstract:
Technological advancement in the domain of optical sensors and light guides opened the way toward the development of small and smart devices able to provide valuable signals of specific and unique chemical signature. Data obtained from such devices can therefore allow decision makers to act on the spot especially when it comes to security issues. The latter includes the authenticity of valuable documents like banknotes, passports, visas as well as other goods like clothes of famous brands. We present herein the progress done on the set up of a unique home-made instrument designed and assembled at the chemistry department at AUB. This instrument gathered together a pulsed flash lamp and a special bifurcated optical fiber designed to meet the technical specification of an imaging spectrometer system. The latter, equipped with a holographic grating, has been embedded with an electro-mechanical shutter at its entrance and accommodated with a thermo-electrically cooled CCD detector at its focal plane. Special software for data acquisition has been developed under LabView to trig and synchronize all optical and electronic components together. The instrument received a US Patent from the US PTO office and is actually under consideration for international patent application at WIPO. Some results will be presented and future development toward forensic science applications will be announced.
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