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Time-Gated Detection

Definition

A laser fluorescence technique that delays camera shutter opening by nanoseconds after the laser pulse to allow short-lived background fluorescence to decay before recording the longer-lived target fluorescence signal.

Related terms

ALS (Alternate Light Source)
An adjustable-wavelength high-intensity light source with interchangeable excitation filters, used for scene examination across UV, visible, and NIR bands; examples include the...
Barrier Filter
An optical long-pass filter placed over the camera lens and worn as goggles by the examiner during ALS examination; blocks the excitation...
DFO (1,8-Diazafluorenone)
A chemical reagent for latent fingerprint development on porous surfaces (paper) that produces yellow-green fluorescence under 505-530 nm ALS excitation; effective on...
Hot Mirror (IR-Cut Filter)
The infrared-blocking filter bonded in front of the digital sensor in consumer and professional cameras; must be removed or bypassed for NIR...
Infrared Luminescence (IRL)
A photophysical process where visible-light absorption produces NIR emission; exploited in questioned-document examination to differentiate and sequence ink strokes with different luminescent...
Laser-Induced Fluorescence (LIF)
Fluorescence excited by a monochromatic laser source, providing higher photon density than a broadband ALS; used for fingerprints on difficult substrates and...
NIR (Near-Infrared)
The spectral region from approximately 700 to 1100 nm; used in reflectance and transmittance imaging of documents, obliterated text, soot patterns under...
Stokes Shift
The wavelength difference between the excitation peak and the emission peak of a fluorophore. A positive Stokes shift (emission at longer wavelength...
UV-a
The ultraviolet band from 315 to 400 nm; the primary band used for UV-reflectance forensic imaging of bruises, GSR, and bite marks...
UV Reflectance Imaging
Photography using UV-A/near-UV-B incident radiation and a UV-pass, visible-blocking lens filter; reveals surface scatter differences in tissue and substrate chemistry not visible...
Vogeley 2002 Protocol
A UV-A reflectance photography protocol published in the Journal of Forensic Sciences (2002) demonstrating improved detection of latent bruising on dark skin...

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