Mid-infrared gas absorption sensor based on a broadband external cavity quantum cascade laser

We developed a laserabsorptionsensor based on a pulsed, broadband tunable externalcavityquantum cascade laser (ECQCL) centered at 1285 cm−1. Unlike traditionalinfrared spectroscopy system, a quartz crystal tuning fork (QCTF) as a lightdetector was used for laser signaldetection. Fast Fourier transform was applied to extract vibration intensity information of QCTF. Thesensor system is successfully tested on nitrous oxide (N2O)spectroscopy measurements and compared with a standardinfrared detector. The wide wavelength tunability of ECQCL will allow us to access the fundamental vibrational bands of many chemical agents, which are well-suited for trace explosive, chemical warfare agent, and toxic industrial chemicaldetection andspectroscopic analysis.
Source: Review of Scientific Instruments - Category: Physics Authors: Source Type: research