Laser photothermal diagnostics of genuine and counterfeit British and United States banknotes

Andreas Othonos, Andreas Mandelis, Marios Nestoros, Constantinos Christofides

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Laser-induced, frequency-scanned IR photothermal radiometry was used to investigate the thermophysical properties of the paper on which several genuine and counterfeit British (£10) and U.S. ($50, $100) currency bills were printed. The radiometric photothermal amplitudes and phases were further compared with a theoretical model, which yielded simultaneous quantitative measurements of the thermal diffusivities and conductivities of the bills. Both statistical and single-specimen results demonstrated the excellent thermophysical resolution of the technique with prospects for its use in the nonintrusive, on-line identification of counterfeit banknotes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)400-407
Number of pages8
JournalOptical Engineering
Volume36
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Feb 1997

Keywords

  • Banknotes
  • Diagnostics
  • Infrared
  • Photoacoustic and photothermal science and engineering
  • Photothermal
  • Radiometry

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