Identification of British one pound counterfeit coins using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Andrew Appleby; Thangavel Thevar

doi:10.1117/1.OE.55.4.044104

Identification of British one pound counterfeit coins using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Andrew Appleby, Thangavel Thevar

Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

6 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a low-cost, nondestructive method for detecting counterfeit coins was examined. A pulsed laser was used to evaporate a minute amount of coin surface, and the emanating plasma was interrogated with an entry-level spectrometer. The spectra produced showed evidence of lead content in six of the eight counterfeits examined. Thus, LIBS could offer a viable low-cost technique for identifying a significant number of fake coins.

Original language	English
Article number	044104
Pages (from-to)	1-7
Number of pages	7
Journal	Optical Engineering
Volume	55
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/1.OE.55.4.044104
Publication status	Published - 21 Apr 2016

Keywords

laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
counterfeit coin detection
British one pound coin

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10.1117/1.OE.55.4.044104Licence: Unspecified

Identification of British one pound counterfeit coins using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
Copyright (2016) Society of Photo Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.
Final published version, 2.93 MBLicence: Unspecified

Thangavel Thevar
- Engineering, Engineering - Senior Lecturer
Person: Academic

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title = "Identification of British one pound counterfeit coins using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy",

abstract = "The use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a low-cost, nondestructive method for detecting counterfeit coins was examined. A pulsed laser was used to evaporate a minute amount of coin surface, and the emanating plasma was interrogated with an entry-level spectrometer. The spectra produced showed evidence of lead content in six of the eight counterfeits examined. Thus, LIBS could offer a viable low-cost technique for identifying a significant number of fake coins.",

keywords = "laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, counterfeit coin detection, British one pound coin",

author = "Andrew Appleby and Thangavel Thevar",

note = "Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to Robert Matthews, C.Chem., MRSC for his generous loan of seven of the counterfeit coins.",

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AU - Thevar, Thangavel

N1 - Acknowledgments The authors are grateful to Robert Matthews, C.Chem., MRSC for his generous loan of seven of the counterfeit coins.

PY - 2016/4/21

Y1 - 2016/4/21

N2 - The use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a low-cost, nondestructive method for detecting counterfeit coins was examined. A pulsed laser was used to evaporate a minute amount of coin surface, and the emanating plasma was interrogated with an entry-level spectrometer. The spectra produced showed evidence of lead content in six of the eight counterfeits examined. Thus, LIBS could offer a viable low-cost technique for identifying a significant number of fake coins.

AB - The use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a low-cost, nondestructive method for detecting counterfeit coins was examined. A pulsed laser was used to evaporate a minute amount of coin surface, and the emanating plasma was interrogated with an entry-level spectrometer. The spectra produced showed evidence of lead content in six of the eight counterfeits examined. Thus, LIBS could offer a viable low-cost technique for identifying a significant number of fake coins.

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KW - counterfeit coin detection

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Identification of British one pound counterfeit coins using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

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Thangavel Thevar

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