Laser Surface Authentication: Using Nature's own fingerprint to detect fraud

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Prof. Russell Cowburn, Imperial College London, UK
• Friday 25 July 2008, 16:00-17:00
• CAPE building main atrium.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Dr James Bendall.

In this talk I describe a new technology called Laser Surface Authentication (LSA) which is currently being piloted by a number of major manufacturing companies as a means of detecting counterfeit products and tracing the origin of smuggled goods. Based on the physics of diffuse laser scattering as a nanometrology probe [1], LSA allows the micro- and nano-scale surface topography of any item to be measured and digitised rapidly to form a unique, naturally-occurring fingerprint that can be used to authenticate and trace everything from nuclear devices to shampoo bottles. In this talk I will describe the underlying physics, the technological challenges and the experience of bringing the technology to market through a spin-out company.

[1] Buchanan, Cowburn et al. Nature 436, 475 (2005)

This talk is part of the Nanoscience Centre Seminar Series series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• CAPE building main atrium
• Cambridge Infectious Diseases
• Chris Davis' list
• Dobson Group - General Interest
• Featured talks
• Guy Emerson's list
• Nanoscience Centre Seminar Series
• School of Physical Sciences
• School of Technology
• custom

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.