Correlation Spectrometers for Detecting Fires in Aircraft

Compact, lightweight, sensitive correlation spectrometers for detecting gaseous byproducts of the onset of fire are under development. These spectrometers would be installed in aircraft, where early detection of fire could enable crews to respond with timely fire-suppression actions. Correlation spectroscopy involves measurements of absorption spectra of chemical species of interest but is not the same as classic absorption spectroscopy, which has been used for decades for detecting airborne chemicals. Classic absorption spectroscopy involves steadystate techniques that are not suited for rapid detection of compounds of immediate interest that may be present along with other compounds that are not of immediate interest.