Soldiers could soon be using advanced optics to find bombs or detect chemical and biological agents.

In August, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory awarded Goodrich Corp. a $3 million, one-year research and development contract to make a specialized spectrometer to differentiate the terahertz (THz) signatures of hazardous substances, including explosives and chemical and biological agents.

The company’s Electro-Optical Systems business in Danbury, Conn., will conduct work on the project.

In the electromagnetic frequency spectrum, terahertz lies between microwaves and infrared light. It is 1,000 times higher in frequency than microwaves, which are used in cell phones and ovens, and 100 to 1,000 times lower than visible light.

Terahertz waves are strongly absorbed by the atmosphere, which makes them a poor choice for long-distance communication through the air. However, at close range, terahertz can help scientists detect chemical compounds, such as pollutants. It can even pass through solid materials, to be used for imaging and scanning, like x-rays.

In the future, terahertz could provide rescuers with a device to detect victims trapped under tons of rubble, and give emergency and environmental personnel a tool for standoff detection of hazardous materials.

Goodrich Corp. is a supplier of systems and services to aerospace, defense, and homeland security markets. For information, see www.goodrich.com.