Wideband terahertz spectroscopy of explosives

Using electro-optic polymers as emitters and sensors of THz radiation, we report the THz absorption spectra over an extended frequency band from 0.5 to 6 THz for four explosives: RDX (1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine), HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitroperhydro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine), PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate), and TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene).