Spring 2006

Instructor:
E. Roland Menzel
Director, Center for Forensic Studies (www.phys.ttu.edu/cfs)
PW Horn Professor of Physics, Engineering Physics and Chemistry

Sc Bldg, Rm 120. Tel: 742 3760, e-mail: Roland.Menzel@TTU.edu

Office hours: MWF 3-4 pm or by appointment.

Course objective:
Optical spectroscopic techniques find applications in numerous criminalistics areas, involving, for example, fingerprints, fibers, documents, body fluids, explosives, DNA labeling. This course deals with the methodologies, instrumentation and procedures involved in the respective evidence analyses.

Prerequisite:
Phys 2351. Phys 1306, 1307 or 1308, 2301 + accompanying labs, Phys 2402, and Chem 1307, 1308 + accompanying labs are strongly recommended.

Required text:
E. R. Menzel, Fingerprint Detection with Lasers, 2nd ed., Marcel Dekker.

Grading:
Final grades are based on six quizzes, of which the top five count. Grading scale: 80-100=A, 65-79 = B, 50-64 = C, 35-49 = D.

Learning outcome:
Students are expected to acquire qualitative and semi-quantitative familiarity with the subject matter of topics 1-5 below.

Learning outcome assessment:
The quizzes serve to assess learning outcome. If a weakness in the grasp of an essential course element is found, a corrective review of the topic takes place.

Lecture schedule:
1. Essential elements of quantum mechanics
2. Spectroscopy: from radio waves to gamma rays
       NMR
       ESR
       infrared spectroscopy
       uv-vis spectroscopy
       x-ray spectroscopy
       neutron activation analysis
3. Optical spectroscopy, with emphasis on photoluminescence
       Overview of evidence examinations
          fingerprints
          DNA
          fibers
          documents
          trace explosives
          nerve agents
          blood
          other body fluids
       Techniques of examination and analysis
          absorption
          excitation
          luminescence
          energy transfer
       Time-resolved spectroscopy and time-resolved imaging
       Components of instrumentation
          light sources
          optics and filters
          monochromators
          photodetectors
          electronics
4. Fingerprint detection techniques
          traditional methods
          dusting and staining
          chemical methods
          special surfaces
5. Lanthanide complexes and nanoparticles
6. Case work