[Wonder Warthog]

"I agree with most of what you say, except for the part about the detector. The article states that the standard issue night vision goggles is enough to detect the effect."

That "might" work under highly artificial conditions (like shining the laser over an open bottle of the explosive, and exciting the concentrated vapors) but I guarantee you that "standard issue night vision goggles" will NOT be sensitive enough to detect explosive vapors in the real world at the much lower concentrations under which they will be present in the field.

"The only question is how expensive/rugged is the green laser."

No, the real question is how expensive and rugged the detector is. Believe me, I "know" about this stuff. We were attempting to do infrared fluorescence (the proper term for "photoluminescence")when I was in grad school back in the late seventies. The detectors back then were just not sensitive enough.

[grey_whiskers]

We were attempting to do infrared fluorescence (the proper term for "photoluminescence")when I was in grad school back in the late seventies.

I kinda prefer 'triboluminescence'--chew up a wintergreen lifesaver in the dark while looking at a mirror. You can see the sparks in your mouth if you look close.

And less risk of detonation (grin).

[Doctor Stochastic]

Wouldn't there be a problem with sensitivity. What is the background level? Are explosives as ubiquitous as cocaine and will show up on every dollar bill? Will Viagra trigger the detector? (I assume that therapeutic nitroglycerin would.)