Self-channeling of femtosecond laser pulses for rapid and efficient standoff detection of energetic materials

Self-channeling properties of high intensity laser pulses are used to extend spectroscopic methods as LIBS to standoff. This work shows the advantages of using self-channeled femtosecond pulses in laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy of polymeric micrometer-size thin films in a standoff configuration at 12 meters. We show the possibility of trace analysis on surfaces and the importance of molecular signal as a signature for carbon-based samples.