TY - JOUR
T1 - Solid-state acquisition of fingermark topology using dense columnar thin films
AU - Lakhtakia, Akhlesh
AU - Shaler, Robert C.
AU - Martín-Palma, Raúl J.
AU - Motyka, Michael A.
AU - Pulsifer, Drew P.
PY - 2011/5/1
Y1 - 2011/5/1
N2 - Various vacuum techniques are employed to develop fingermarks on evidentiary items. In this work, a vacuum was used to deposit columnar thin films (CTFs) on untreated, cyanoacrylate-fumed or dusted fingermarks on a limited selection of nonporous surfaces (microscope glass slides and evidence tape). CTF deposition was not attempted on fingermarks deposited on porous surfaces. The fingermarks were placed in a vacuum chamber with the fingermark side facing an evaporating source boat containing either chalcogenide glass or MgF2. Thermal evaporation of chalcogenide glass or MgF2 under a 1 μTorr vacuum for 30min formed dense CTFs on fingermark ridges, capturing the topographical features. The results show that it is possible to capture fingermark topology using CTFs on selected untreated, vacuumed cyanoacrylate-fumed or black powder-dusted nonporous surfaces. Additionally, the results suggested this might be a mechanism to help elucidate the sequence of deposition.
AB - Various vacuum techniques are employed to develop fingermarks on evidentiary items. In this work, a vacuum was used to deposit columnar thin films (CTFs) on untreated, cyanoacrylate-fumed or dusted fingermarks on a limited selection of nonporous surfaces (microscope glass slides and evidence tape). CTF deposition was not attempted on fingermarks deposited on porous surfaces. The fingermarks were placed in a vacuum chamber with the fingermark side facing an evaporating source boat containing either chalcogenide glass or MgF2. Thermal evaporation of chalcogenide glass or MgF2 under a 1 μTorr vacuum for 30min formed dense CTFs on fingermark ridges, capturing the topographical features. The results show that it is possible to capture fingermark topology using CTFs on selected untreated, vacuumed cyanoacrylate-fumed or black powder-dusted nonporous surfaces. Additionally, the results suggested this might be a mechanism to help elucidate the sequence of deposition.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01685.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01685.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21306377
AN - SCOPUS:77958196785
VL - 56
SP - 612
EP - 616
JO - Journal of Forensic Sciences
JF - Journal of Forensic Sciences
SN - 0022-1198
IS - 3
ER -