Patent ID: 8143597
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An efficient and portable method for remote detection of a target material through frequency domain fluorimetry comprising the steps of: choosing a target material to detect and identify; selecting a mercury vapor lamp, coupled to a power line carrying a power frequency and higher harmonics thereof, said mercury vapor lamp in close proximity to said target material for use as a target material fluorophore excitation source; sensing sinusoidal modulation of said mercury vapor lamp resulting from said power frequency and higher harmonics from a distance of at least one kilometer; detecting fluorescence from said target material through excitation from said mercury vapor lamp; measuring an amplitude and a phase angle of said sensed sinusoidal modulation; measuring an amplitude and a phase angle of said detected fluorescence; comparing said amplitude and phase angle of said sensed sinusoidal modulation with said amplitude and phase angle of said fluorescence; and determining a lifetime of said target material and a corresponding identity of said target material.