TNT detection with 14N NQR: Multipulse sequences and matched filter

Nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) has a distinct potential to verify the presence of nitrogen bearing substances based on the unequivocal signatures of their spectra. Therefore, this technique is especially suitable for remote detection of illicit substances and explosives. Unfortunately, the inherent signal-to-noise of the most abundant explosive trinitrotoluene (TNT) is very low. Here we present an NQR method with improved sensitivity for estimation of the probability of TNT presence in the investigated object. The method consists of a spin-lock spin-echo (SLSE) multipulse sequence for signal excitation and a time domain matched filter for signal detection. We find that the signal-to-noise increases by shortening the pulse spacings, even though this means a decrease in spectral resolution. In our case, the decrease of the pulse spacings from the typical 2ms to 540μs resulted in an increase of the signal-to-noise by 14dB. A theory describing this enhancement is presented and compared to experimental results on TNT. Issues related to temperature and polymorphism variations are also discussed.