DTI Global Watch Secondment 6 months staged over the period

June 2004 to August 2005 Final Report

Dr Andrew I. Whitehouse

Page 1 of 8

Contents Executive Summary 2 Strategy 2 Objectives and Work Programme 2 Benefits and Lessons Learned 4 Applying the Knowledge 5 Conclusions and Recommendations 5 Acknowledgements 6 References 6 Images taken during technical trials of ST-LIBS at Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona 7

Page 2 of 8

DTI Global Watch Secondment 6 months staged over the period June 2004 to August 2005

Final Report Dr Andrew I. Whitehouse

Executive Summary This report summarises the work programme, objectives, benefits, knowledge gained, and positive impact on the employing company of the secondee (Applied Photonics Ltd – APL) during a DTI Global Watch Secondment to the United States. Dr Andrew I. Whitehouse (Managing Director for APL) was seconded to Venn Group at their offices in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Starting with an outline of APL’s business strategy in the context of this secondment, the report continues with a summary of the objectives of the secondment together with the work programme which was developed to meet these objectives, the benefits and lessons learned during the secondment, how the acquired knowledge was put to good use by both the secondee and APL, the conclusions and some recommendations are offered for other small companies considering using this scheme. The report concludes with our acknowledgements and a brief list of references to technical presentations given by, or with contributions from, the secondee at international conferences attended during recent years and which are relevant to this secondment. Strategy The company’s mission is “To be the UK’s centre of excellence for the advancement of industrial applications of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and related photonic technologies”. In order to achieve this, we must continually strive to develop and expand our in-house expertise and capabilities in this field of technology. Accordingly, we must be aware of scientific and technological advancements in this area of technology, in particular the work of the many research groups throughout the USA who are at the forefront of this field. Key areas of application of this technology are i) the nuclear decommissioning and clean-up industry and ii) defence and homeland security. In addition to the continual need to acquire new knowledge and skills relevant to the APL’s core technology area, it is also necessary for the company to increase awareness and understanding of these potentially new market areas. Our company has a long-standing relationship with Tony Marlow (President of Venn Group Inc. and formerly Vice President of BNFL Instruments Inc) and so when the opportunity arose to team with Venn Group to continue and expand upon our earlier work we conducted with Tony when he headed up the Santa Fe office of BNFL Instruments Inc., the Global Watch Secondment scheme was seen as an ideal way of achieving our aims. Objectives and Work Programme Over the last 7 years, APL has gained considerable experience of deploying its LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) technology within various industrial environments. During this period, approximately half of the company's business was with the UK nuclear industry. The unique nature of APL's products and services as applied to the remote chemical analysis of radioactive materials, together with the operational experience gained within the UK nuclear industry, have helped to stimulate interest from outside of the UK and the US nuclear industry in particular. APL believes there are significant market opportunities for their LIBS technology within the US Department of Energy (DoE) funded programme of decommissioning and clean-up of redundant nuclear facilities. The cost of this programme has been estimated by the DoE to be in excess of $200 billion. Furthermore, there is growing interest from within the US Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the capabilities of LIBS for rapid identification of suspicious materials including explosives residues and chem-bio materials.

Page 3 of 8

The principal objectives of this secondment may be summarised as follows:

• Gain knowledge about the US nuclear decommissioning programme and how it functions

• Learn about the technology currently used to analyse and characterise radioactive materials (radiometric instrumentation)

• Learn new business skills in bid preparation, technical presentations, dealing with US organisations and customers, and best practice in quality assurance

• Learn about the work of the various US research groups active in the field of LIBS

• Continue with and expand our networking with key LIBS players in the US, in particular, Army Research Laboratory (Dr Andrzej Miziolek) and Ocean Optics Inc (Dr Roy Walters).

• Achieve significant knowledge transfer from the US to the UK, technical and commercial, in LIBS and related technologies

• Use the knowledge gained to help place APL in a better position to compete effectively in the US market.

The work programme, which was carried out in such a way as to allow sufficient flexibility for the secondee to maximise the usefulness of the secondment, may be summarised as follows: June - September 2004

• Work with our original host company (BNFL Instruments Inc), on their proposal for site characterisation work at the DoE Hanford site (Washington State). Unfortunately, we were informed in September that BNFL Instruments had not been successful in gaining the contract. Furthermore, changes in the management team and the strategic direction of our host company meant that it was no longer tenable for the secondee to continue working with the company. This obviously impacted on the original plan for the secondment but two new opportunities arose which allowed the main objectives of the secondment to be fulfilled – these were i) the identification of a new host company (Venn Group Inc, President: Tony Marlow), and ii) an invitation to participate in a technical demonstration of LIBS for stand-off detection of explosives residues (Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland – Dr Andrzej Miziolek).

• Further meetings with Dr David Cremers of Los Alamos National Laboratory to discuss specific applications of LIBS, in particular space applications (LIBS to be used on a Mars rover for analysing rock samples) and the use of LIBS to characterise soil samples (carbon sequestration measurements which are of interest to research into global warming).

• A visit to Ocean Optics Inc at their R&D and manufacturing facility in Orlando, Florida. The secondee met with Dr Roy Walters (Vice President and Director of R&D) to learn more about a new spectrometer being developed by Ocean Optics for LIBS applications. The secondee also learned about the work they were conducting for Army Research Laboratory on the development of a so-called Man-Portable LIBS instrument (MP-LIBS)

November - December 2002

• Through discussions with people at Ocean Optics, the secondee learned of a new project being led by Praxair Inc of Indianapolis. Praxair is the largest supplier of industrial gases in the USA and has close involvement with the US steel industry for whom Praxair have developed a number of novel products. One such product is known as Co-Jet which is a system used to direct gases (oxygen, argon, etc) deep into the melt of a steel furnace. Praxair are interested in the use of optical and laser spectroscopy for use as an on-line process control monitor. After contacting

Page 4 of 8

Praxair, the secondee was invited to visit their research team based in Coalville near Indianapolis and to see a test rig at a steel manufacturing plant in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

• Commencing late November, the secondee participated in the demonstration of Stand-Off LIBS (ST-LIBS) for remote detection of explosives residues. This project was part-funded by NATO and led by Dr Miziolek of Army Research Laboratory (ARL). The team members were: ARL, Ocean Optics Inc, University of Malaga (Dept. of Analytical Chemistry), and Applied Photonics Ltd. The technical demonstration involved the team meeting up at Ocean Optics’ premises in Orlando for a period of two weeks to modify and refine a prototype instrument previously developed by University of Malaga, followed by one week of trials at the Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona. This event provided a unique opportunity for the secondee to work with key players in the LIBS field and for a very important project. The ultimate aim of the demonstration was to establish if the LIBS technique was able to detect explosives residues for the purposes of identifying Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosives Devices (VB-IEDs).

March - April 2005

• During March, the secondee worked with Tony Marlow (Venn Group) to assess the feasibility of integrating a fibre-optic probe LIBS instrument with a Brokk remote manipulator for use in nuclear decommissioning applications.

• In April, the secondee presented a paper at a one-week long meeting at NATO HQ in Norfolk, Virginia, where various emerging technologies were discussed in the context of IED detection and counter-measures.

July - August 2005

• The secondee spent several weeks working with Ocean Optics at their facilities in Orlando assisting with the design and manufacture of a prototype ST-LIBS instrument for use by ARL. During this time, the secondee had the opportunity to visit ARL and meet with Dr Miziolek and his research group. A further meeting with representatives from US Army Alliance was attended by the secondee after being invited by Dr Miziolek to contribute to the discussions on ST-LIBS and MP-LIBS for use by First Responders (Department of Homeland Security).

Benefits and Lessons Learned For reasons given earlier, it was not possible during this 6-month secondment for the secondee to gain first-hand experience of a real-world nuclear decommissioning project at the DoE Hanford site. The willingness of Tony Marlow of Venn Group, however, to act as our new host company was instrumental in allowing the secondee to continue with the secondment and gain from his considerable knowledge and experience of the US nuclear decommissioning programme. Despite the initial problems, all other objectives were completed and, concerning links with the US Army Research Laboratory and Ocean Optics, surpassed our expectations and more than made up for the disappointment of not being involved with the work at Hanford. The secondee’s involvement with the ST-LIBS project run by ARL has provided a unique opportunity to interact with a number of very experienced scientists and engineers working in the LIBS field. By way of a simple example of knowledge transfer, the secondee learned about the design and manufacturing methods used by Ocean Optics in their range of miniature spectrometers. The importance of using Computer Aided Design (CAD) for modelling optical systems was highlighted to the secondee who on returning to the UK acquired an appropriate CAD package (Zemax) and undertook a 2-week long intensive training programme. In the past, APL had not fully adopted optical system CAD but the knowledge gained during the secondment when working with experienced optical designers convinced the secondee that APL must get up to speed in this area.

Page 5 of 8

Applying the Knowledge The staged nature of the secondment greatly facilitated the transfer to APL of the commercial skills learned by the secondee during the secondment. Where appropriate, APL has adopted the working practices of the host company in areas such as proposal generation and Quality Assurance. Teaming with other US companies is seen as being key to winning business in the US. The contacts made by the secondee during the term of this secondment has helped to build bridges between APL and companies already engaged in work of the US DoE, DoD and DHS and so the staff of APL now feel more confident to seek new business opportunities in the US. Examples of specific knowledge transfer to APL are:

• Knowledge of conventional radiometric materials characterisation technologies (as applied to radioactive materials) and how LIBS fits with this technology

• Awareness of the state-of-the-art in LIBS technology within the USA

• Awareness of the work and capabilities of the main LIBS research groups in the USA

• The importance of CAD for modelling optical systems

• The design of miniature spectrometers for use in LIBS systems

• The availability and capabilities of compact Nd:YAG laser devices suitable for use in a LIBS instrument.

• NATO and US DoD concerns over the current lack of a technological solution to remotely detecting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and how LIBS may provide an answer.

• The interest by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in portable LIBS instruments for use by First Responders when having to quickly identify and classify suspicious materials in the field.

• The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programmes run by the US Small Business Agency (www.sba.gov)

APL is now actively applying the knowledge learned by the secondee and, amongst other things, has redirected its R&D efforts towards product development of portable LIBS instruments. The way the company conducts its in-house R&D work has been greatly influenced by the results of this secondment, not least the adoption of optical CAD techniques. The many contacts made by the secondee during his time in the US has also greatly enhanced the commercial opportunities for APL, especially for conducting business with the US. Conclusions and Recommendations All the objectives set out at the commencement of this secondment have been met. Dr Whitehouse has benefited immensely from this secondment in terms of personal development while APL has likewise benefited from gaining valuable technical and commercial know-how relevant to the business aims of the company. Some of the knowledge gained has already been put to good effect within APL, for example, improved proposal writing, better methods of calculating contract costs and profits, technical report writing and presentation skills, QA procedures, future direction of our internal R&D programme etc. We would have no doubt in recommending to other organisations that they take advantage of the Global Watch Secondment scheme as we are absolutely delighted with the benefits we have gained from this scheme. For very small companies like ours, however, we would offer the following advice:

1. Do not underestimate the short-term negative impact on your business of sending a key member of staff on an extended secondment. We partially overcame this problem by conducting a staged secondment whereby the secondee spends between 1 and 2 months with the host company followed by a similar period of time back in the UK. The negative impact of this is that the cost to the company increases (eg. apartment rent had to be paid whether or not the secondee was in the

Page 6 of 8

US, additional flight costs) and the secondee had to endure significant periods of travelling (in our case, total travel one-way was approaching 24 hours).

2. Allow sufficient time to find suitable accommodation (increased security measures in the US as a result of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 have made it much more difficult for foreign nationals to obtain accommodation). It helps significantly if you have a US Social Security number – this can only be obtained after your visa is issued.

3. Obtain a US driver licence as soon as you can - drivers license are used throughout the US as an identity card and hence possessing one is extremely useful. You will need your UK drivers licence and you will need to take a written test. You will also need a US Social Security number before you can apply for a drivers licence.

4. Ensure that you have a detailed work programme before commencing the secondment and that the work programme is endorsed by your host company.

5. Try not to become too depressed about the R&D funding opportunities available to small companies in the US via the SBIR and STTR programmes, even if it is very difficult not to be!

Acknowledgements Without the support and constant encouragement of Liz Chambers (PERA), this secondment would not have been possible and so our sincere thanks go to her for all her hard work and dedication in helping us make this secondment a reality. Our thanks also go to Stuart Fuller, Bill Powrie and Roger Benson of the Small Business Service, each of whom have provided much-needed advice and constant encouragement throughout all stages of this secondment. We are indebted to our host company, Venn Group Inc., and Tony Marlow for the generous help and support provided to the secondee during this secondment. Last but not least, the secondee must thank Rachel Robinson of APL for her tireless efforts to keep track of expenditure, manage the logistics and undertake the administrative tasks needed to maintain the smooth and efficient running of this secondment. References

1. A I Whitehouse, J Young, C P Evans, Extreme LIBS, Presented at: LIBS 2002, September 25 – 28, 2002, Orlando, Florida, USA

2. A I Whitehouse, J Young, C P Evans, A Brown (Applied Photonics Ltd.), J Franco, A Simpson (BNFL Instruments Inc.), Remote compositional analysis of spent-fuel residues using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Presented at: Waste Management 2003 Symposium (WM '03) February 23 – 27, 2003, Tucson, Arizona, USA

3. A I Whitehouse, J Young, C P Evans, A Brown (Applied Photonics Ltd.), J Franco, A Simpson (BNFL Instruments Inc.), Remote Characterization of HLW using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, Presented at: 10th International High-Level Radioactive Waste Management Conference (IHLRWM), March 30 - April 2, 2003, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

4. C Lopez-Moreno, S Palanco, J J Laserna (University of Malaga), F DeLucia, A W Miziolek, (Army Research Laboratory), J Rose, R A Walters (Ocean Optics Inc), A I Whitehouse (Applied Photonics Ltd), Test of a stand-off LIBS for the detection of explosive residues on solid surfaces, Presented at Euro-Mediterranean Symposium on Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (EMSLIBS), Aachen, Germany, Sept. 2005.

Dr Andrew I. Whitehouse Managing Director For and on behalf of Applied Photonics Ltd Date: 16 October 2005

Page 7 of 8

The secondee (centre) helping to align the Stand-Off LIBS instrument (ST-LIBS) at the Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona during December 2004

Page 8 of 8

The LIBS team at Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona. From left to right: Prof. Javier Laserna (University of Malaga, Spain), Jeremy Rose (Ocean Optics Inc., Orlando, Florida), Dr Frank DeLucia (Army Research Laboratory, Maryland), Dr Roy Walters (Technical Director, Ocean Optics Inc., Orlando, Florida), Dr Andrzej Miziolek (Army Research Laboratory, Maryland), Dr Andrew Whitehouse (Applied Photonics Ltd, UK), Cristina Lopez (University of Malaga, Spain), and Dr Santiago Palanco (University of Malaga, Spain)