DASA is running a Market Exploration to identify technological solutions to detect Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) Signals with atomic magnetometers (AM) and modelling/studies on radiation induced Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) measurements.
Existing technologies and techniques that currently detect illicit substances are limited in their signal-to-noise (SNR) detection and range of detectable substances. DASA is seeking innovations that provide next generation Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance and Electron Spin Resonance for Explosives and Drugs Detection in faster time and more variety.
The exploration aims to to identify technologies at TRL 3 – 6 to provide a better understanding of existing market capabilities and less mature lines of development within industry and academia.
The call is focused on:
- developing atomic magnetometers to detect NQR signals typical from explosives and drugs in a practical realisation
- modelling the feasibility of using ionising radiation to generate free radicals, in explosives which do not naturally contain any, and then detect those radicals with an ESR measurement.
Responses are required by 14 November 2023.
