Photo of the Week: High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry of Explosives

Explosives' characterization is essential to understanding a threat's maerial properties. A comprehensive investigation of the material's thermal, spectroscopic and purity characteristics is required to understand its blast and detection properties. One tool used to perform this critical evaluation is high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). This technique allows the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) to determine explosive chemistry in ways previously inaccessible. Pictured here, Dr. Johnny Perez, analytical research chemist at the TSL is seen preparing a sample vial.  Once the HRMS starts, the analysis system will measure the individual molecules with incredibly high accuracy.

Photo credit: Laurie Zaleski and Amanda Werner, FAA