Intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy with a vertical external cavity surface emitting laser at 2.3 μm: Application to water and carbon dioxide

A diode pumped Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser emitting at 2.3 μm has been developed to extend the near infrared spectral region accessible for Intracavity Laser Absorption Spectroscopy. The achieved sensitivity on the order of αmin ∼ 1.5 × 10−9 cm−1 (or 3 × 10−10 cm−1/ Hz ), has allowed detecting water and carbon dioxide lines with an intensity as low as 10−27 and 2 × 10−28 cm/molecule, respectively. The first detection of the 31104-00001 band of 13C16O2 and of a number of transitions of the 31104-00001 and 40005-01101e bands of 12C16O2 is reported together with their rotational analysis.