Photoacoustic trace gas sensing with mid-IR quantum cascade lasers

Author

Elia, Angela ; Spagnolo, Vincenzo ; Franco, Cinzia Di ; Lugara, Pietro Mario ; Scamarcio, Gaetano

Author_Institution

Dipt. Interateneo di Fis. M. Merlin, Univ. & Politec. of Bari, Bari, Italy

fYear

2009

fDate

25-26 June 2009

Firstpage

46

Lastpage

50

Abstract

We report on the realization of an optoacoustic sensor based on mid-infrared quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) for the detection of nitric oxide (NO) and formaldehyde (CH₂O). A resonant photoacoustic cell equipped with 4 electret microphones was excited in its first longitudinal mode by the modulated laser light. A detection limit of 150 parts in 10⁹ (ppbv) for NO and CH₂O was found, using distributed feedback QCLs operating in pulsed mode at 5.34 mum and 5.62 mum, respectively.

Keywords

acoustic devices; carbon compounds; electrets; gas sensors; laser beam applications; microphones; nitrogen compounds; photoacoustic spectroscopy; quantum cascade lasers; CH₂O; NO; electret microphones; formaldehyde detection; mid IR quantum cascade lasers; midinfrared quantum cascade lasers; modulated laser light; nitric oxide detection; optoacoustic sensor; photoacoustic trace gas sensing; wavelength 5.34 mum; wavelength 5.62 mum; Distributed feedback devices; Electrets; Gas lasers; Laser excitation; Laser feedback; Laser modes; Microphones; Optical modulation; Quantum cascade lasers; Resonance; Photoacoustic spectroscopy; quantum cascade lasers; trace gas sensing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Advances in sensors and Interfaces, 2009. IWASI 2009. 3rd International Workshop on

Conference_Location

Trani

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-4708-4

Electronic_ISBN

978-1-4244-4709-1

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IWASI.2009.5184766

Filename

5184766