source 44 and measuring equipment can be located a sufficient distance away from the detonation event light from the light source 44 is delivered to the first portion 18 through the first optical fiber 40 which is in communication with the first portion 18 the light travels through the first optical path 36 passing through the collimating lens 54 and reflected through the absorption region 32 by the mirror 28 the light passes through the absorption region 32 and is incident upon the mirror 30 in the second optical path 38 of the second portion 20 this mirror 30 reflects the post absorption light to the collimating lens 56 where it is focused onto a second optical fiber 42 in communication with the second portion 20 this second optical fiber 42 transmits the light to the time resolved spectroscopy system 51 where it is analyzed more particularly the first and second optical fibers 40 and 42 are connected to the first and second portions 18 and 20 opposite from the tapered ends 24 and 26 to minimize the effects of the detonation on these components in addition the length of the absorption region 32 is set based upon the desired path length 22 for absorption in one embodiment the system utilizes raman spectroscopy or terahertz spectroscopy non linear raman spectroscopy or terahertz spectroscopy can also probe spectrally specific signatures with spatial sensitivity non linear raman signals however are more significantly affected by the sooty non resonant light scattering that is inherent in post detonation clouds terahertz measurements are currently limited in time resolution and require a very expensive light source and non standard optics for its use while it is apparent that the illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed herein fulfill.