Physics Section

The Physics Section conducts research and development in applied physics. The following five areas are particularly emphasized: nondestructive analysis of materials using X-rays and other beams, 3D measurement by photogrammetry, image processing or enhancement of crime scene images, camera identification by the CCD fingerprint method, and analysis using a tunable laser system.

Research and Development of Time-Resolved Imaging Spectroscopy Method using Laser

Tunable laser system. An example of a fingerprint fluorescence image is shown in the lower right corner.

A tunable laser can output the laser beams from ultraviolet to infrared. We developed a system that can measure the fluorescence of samples using the tunable laser, and we have studied detection methods for fingerprints and oil by time-resolved imaging spectroscopy. Laser spectroscopy has the advantage of examining samples nondestructively. This system is expected to be useful in the investigation of fire causes and in the development of new fingerprint detection methods.

Image Analysis and Processing

Individual camera identification: Whether a questioned image was recorded with a specific camera can be determined by detecting an inherent fixed noise pattern of the camera.

The following image analysis and processing methods are our research and development scopes: camera identification, estimation of recording date and time, measurement of suspect's height and vehicles speed by photogrammetry, image enhancement and restoration, detection of evidence of image manipulation. Surveillance images and other sources are analyzed with these techniques.