ABSTRACT
An innovative spectroscopic technique based on balancing and cancellation of modulated signals induced by two excitation sources is reported. For its practical implementation, we used quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy as an absorption-sensing technique and applied the new approach to measure small temperature differences between two gas samples. The achieved sensitivity was 30 mK in 17 s. A theoretical sensitivity analysis is presented, and the applicability of this method to isotopic measurements is discussed.
ABSTRACT
We report a laser spectroscopy technique for detecting optical absorption in gases and micro-objects via linked thermal effects and by using a sharp mechanical resonance in a quartz crystal. The performance of this technique is studied using near-IR diode lasers and two gases, pure CO(2) and C(2)H(2) diluted in nitrogen. A 7.3 × 10(-8) cm(-1)W/(Hz)(1/2) noise equivalent sensitivity to absorption in gases is demonstrated. Based on experimental results, it was estimated that 10(-8) fractional absorption of optical radiation by a micro-object deposited on a thin transparent fiber can be detected.
ABSTRACT
A transportable prototype Faraday rotation spectroscopic system based on a tunable external cavity quantum cascade laser has been developed for ultrasensitive detection of nitric oxide (NO). A broadly tunable laser source allows targeting the optimum Q(3/2)(3/2) molecular transition at 1875.81 cm(-1) of the NO fundamental band. For an active optical path of 44 cm and 1-s lock-in time constant minimum NO detection limits (1sigma) of 4.3 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) and 0.38 ppbv are obtained by using a thermoelectrically cooled mercury-cadmium-telluride photodetector and liquid nitrogen-cooled indium-antimonide photodetector, respectively. Laboratory performance evaluation and results of continuous, unattended monitoring of atmospheric NO concentration levels are reported.
