These proceedings contain the presentations and results of several
discussions of the workshop on "Detection and Disposal of Improvised
Explosives" held in St.-Petersburg, Russia, September 7-9, 2005. This
Advanced Research Workshop was the fourth event concerning Detection of
Explosives in connection with counter terrorism. After the first three
workshops, dealing with vapor and trace detection, electronic nose
detection and detection of bulk explosives, this workshop was devoted to
the detection of Improvise Explosives including: Methods of detection of
Improvised Explosives (IE). Methods of detection of Improvised
explosives devices (IED). Disposal and safe handling of ID and IED. The
treatment of detection methods may be divided in the following groups:
Overview about the different methods; Trace- and vapor detection;
Electromagnetic methods; Neutron methods; Laser techniques. Because of
different definitions of Improvised Explosives the parti- pants of the
workshop agreed after some discussions with the following definition: An
Improvised Explosive (IE) can be any chemical compound or mixture
capable of an explosive reaction. They are normally easily prepared by a
knowledgeable layman under simple conditions. Components of IE are
typically inorganic salts containing molecular bound oxygen like
nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates etc. or organic compounds with
nitro-, nitami- or nitrate-groups or peroxides. Admixtures of military
or commercial explosive materials are also used. From the chemical point
of view IE can be divided into the following types: Salts containing
chemical groups with oxygen (like nitrates, chlorates or perchlorates
etc.) in mixtures with combustible substances like carbon-hydrogen
compounds.