Plasma and Fusion Research

Volume 4, 003 (2009)

Letters

Nondestructive Sensor Using Microwaves from a Laser Plasma
Hirotomo NAKAJIMA, Yoshinori SHIMADA1), Toshihiro SOMEKAWA1), Masayuki FUJITA1) and Kazuo A. TANAKA
Graduate School of Engineering and Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-Oka, Suita, Osaka565-0871, Japan
1)
Institute for Laser Technology, 2-6 Yamada-Oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
(Received 10 October 2008 / Accepted 15 December 2008 / Published 23 January 2009)

Abstract

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is a nondestructive sensor technology for detecting underground objects. GPR requires large-aperture antennas to survey a remote location precisely because of the expansion of microwaves. We propose a laser-driven GPR (LGPR) that uses microwave radiation from a laser plasma to achieve remote sensing. LGPR is expected to provide good spatial resolution with a small antenna. We selected a subnanosecond laser pulse as a suitable radiator for LGPR (L-S band). Experimental results show that the LGPR system can detect aluminum disks buried in sand.

Keywords

laser plasma, rf emission, nondestructive sensing, subnanosecond laser

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.4.003

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This paper may be cited as follows:

Hirotomo NAKAJIMA, Yoshinori SHIMADA, Toshihiro SOMEKAWA, Masayuki FUJITA and Kazuo A. TANAKA, Plasma Fusion Res. 4, 003 (2009).