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Article

Advanced Techniques in Physical Forensic Science

OCT 01, 1998
Ultrasensitive mass spectrometry is now being applied in forensic investigations.
Patrick Grant
David Chambers
Louis Grace
Douglas Phinney
Ian Hutcheon

The techniques and tools of modern physics have long been profitably applied to forensic science. Since the 1900s, forensic scientists have analyzed gunshot residues, examined fired munitions, determined the refractive indices of glass—to name a few of their diverse activities.

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References

  1. 1. R. Saferstein, ed., Forensic Science Handbook, 3 vols., Regents/ Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. (1982, 1988, 1993).

  2. 2. D. Fisher, Hard Evidence, Simon & Schuster, New York (1995).
    P. Laurie, Scotland Yard:A Study of the Metropolitan Police, 1st ed., Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York (1970).
    R. S. Frank, M. F. Ernst, eds., Proceedings of the 11th INTERPOL Forensic Science Symposium, Forensic Sciences, Foundation Press, Colorado Springs, Colo. (1995).

  3. 3. V. G. Berezkin, Gas Chromatography in Air Pollution Analysis, Elsevier, New York (1991).

  4. 4. J. P. Lodge, ed., Methods of Air Sampling and Analysis, Lewis, Chelsea, Mich. (1989) p. 4.

  5. 5. G. Ekspong, ed., Nobel Lectures: Physics (1981–1990), World Scientific, Teaneck, N.J. (1993).

  6. 6. D. M. Chambers, L. I. Grace, B. D. Andresen, Anal. Chem. 69, 3780 (1997).https://doi.org/ANCHAM

  7. 7. J. F. J. Todd, R. M. Waldren, R. F. Bonner, Int. J. Mass Spectrom. Ion Processes 34, 17 (1980).

  8. 8. R. G. Wilson, F. A. Stevie, C. W. Magee, Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, Wiley, New York (1989).

  9. 9. T. R. Ireland, Adv. Anal. Geochem. 2, 1 (1995).

  10. 10. P. M. Grant, R. E. Whipple, F. Bazan, J. L. Brunk, K. M. Wong, R. E. Russo, B. D. Andresen, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem. 193, 165 (1995).https://doi.org/JRNCDM

  11. 11. P. M. Grant, R. E. Whipple, B. D. Andresen, J. Forensic Sci. 40, 18 (1995).

  12. 12. B. D. Andresen, R. Whipple, A. Alcaraz, J. S. Haas, P. M. Grant, Chem. Health & Safety 1, no.3, 44 (1994).

  13. 13. G. L. Klunder, J. E. Andrews, P. M. Grant, B. D. Andresen, R. E. Russo, Anal. Chem. 69, 2988 (1997).

  14. 14. R. E. Russo, G. E. Pelkey, P. Grant, R. E. Whipple, B. D. Andresen, J. Forensic Sci. 39, 1331 (1994).https://doi.org/JFSCAS

  15. 15. J. S. Haas, R. E. Whipple, P. M. Grant, B. D. Andresen, A. M. Volpe, G. E. Pelkey, Sci. Justice 37, 15 (1997).

  16. 16. R. Stone, Discover 16, no.4, 66 (1995).
    M. R. Lichtenwalner, D. L. Contostavlos, J. C. de laTorre, P. M. Grant, Forensic Sci. Int. 94, 217, 219 (1998).

  17. 17. P. M. Grant, J. S. Haas, R. E. Whipple, B. D. Andresen, Forensic Sci. Int. 87, 219 (1997).https://doi.org/FSINDR

More about the authors

Patrick Grant, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Forensic Science Center, Livermore, California.

David Chambers, LLNL's Aanalytical Science Division.

Louis Grace, LLNL's Aanalytical Science Division.

Douglas Phinney, LLNL's Isotope Sciences Division.

Ian Hutcheon, LLNL's Isotope Sciences Division.

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Volume 51, Number 10

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