Handheld Detector IDs Chemicals, Explosives on the Spot.

• Author: Park, Allyson

ARLINGTON, Virginia--Thermo Fisher Scientific recently introduced a handheld device that carries a library of hazardous chemicals with it, allowing users to quickly know what kinds of threats they are facing. The Defender Omega Handheld Raman Analyzer uses light-scattering technology to observe and analyze molecular structures for defense, security and law enforcement applications. "The really cool thing about this product is that it does all of that scientific work for you, right in the palm of your hand," said Irene Richard, product manager for the chemical identification safety and security portfolio at Thermo Fisher Scientific, in an interview. "Raman spectroscopy looks at [a substance's] molecular structure. It's got this whole [data] library of different components, and we actually make those libraries using the Defender Omega device, and they're extremely accurate."

And the libraries are what differentiates the Defender Omega for military and defense applications, Richard said. "Not only does it have those narcotics and hazmat libraries, it also has [data on] explosives and chemical warfare agents.... Defender Omega is really good for both identification...