Mid-infrared photoacoustic gas monitoring driven by a gas-filled hollow-core fiber laser

High-power hollow-core fiber gas laser at 3.1 µm with a linear-cavity structure

Mid-infrared hollow-core fiber (HCF) gas lasers based on a population inversion regime of gas molecules have made advanced development in recent years, but mostly with single-pass cavity-free structures. Here, we demonstrated a 3.1 µm high-power acetylene-filled HCF continuous wave (CW) laser and a self-Q-switched pulse laser with a linear-cavity structure. This configuration not only facilitates the transformation of amplified spontaneous emission into the laser output but also enhances the coherence of the light source and imparts distinct cavity mode characteristics. Harnessing a homemade high-power 1535 nm single-frequency fiber laser that served as the pump source, a CW laser output of 8.23 W at 3.1 µm was achieved, which is over three orders of magnitude higher than those in reported works so far. The corresponding slope efficiency of 31.8% and beam quality of Mx 2 = 1.18 and My 2 = 1.15 were characterized. When the gas pressure was up to 50 mbar, the laser generated a 3.1 µm self-Q-switched pulse with an output power of 1.98 W as well as a pulse width of 45 ns under the repetition rate of 4.59 MHz. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that an HCF gas laser achieves a self-Q-switched pulse. Future studies will aim to further optimize the experimental setup, potentially enabling the direct generation of picosecond pulses in the mid-infrared wavelength band.

21.8 W acetylene-filled hollow-core anti-resonant fiberamplified spontaneous emission source at 3.1 µm

We report a 20-W-level acetylene-filled nested hollow-core anti-resonant fiber (nested HC-ARF) amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) source at 3.1 µm. A 1535 nm hundred-watt wavelength tunable single-frequency fiber laser with a high signal-to-noise ratio and narrow linewidth is built for pumping acetylene molecules. Simultaneously, a homemade 120 µm core diameter eight-tube nested HC-ARF is used as a gas chamber to obtain high pump laser coupling efficiency. The mid-infrared (mid-IR) ASE source output power of 21.8 W is achieved at 3.1 µm through the low-pressure acetylene gas-filled nested HC-ARF, and the slope efficiency is 25.1%. In addition, the ASE source features an excellent beam quality of Mx 2 = 1.16 and My 2 = 1.13. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, it is a record output power for such mid-infrared ASE sources while maintaining excellent beam quality. This work provides a new way to achieve high-power mid-infrared emission.

Ultra-highly sensitive dual gases detection based on photoacoustic spectroscopy by exploiting a long-wave, high-power, wide-tunable, single-longitudinal-mode solid-state laser

Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) as a highly sensitive and selective trace gas detection technique has extremely broad application in many fields. However, the laser sources currently used in PAS limit the sensing performance. Compared to diode laser and quantum cascade laser, the solid-state laser has the merits of high optical power, excellent beam quality, and wide tuning range. Here we present a long-wave, high-power, wide-tunable, single-longitudinal-mode solid-state laser used as light source in a PAS sensor for trace gas detection. The self-built solid-state laser had an emission wavelength of ~2 μm with Tm:YAP crystal as the gain material, with an excellent wavelength and optical power stability as well as a high beam quality. The wide wavelength tuning range of 9.44 nm covers the absorption spectra of water and ammonia, with a maximum optical power of ~130 mW, allowing dual gas detection with a single laser source. The solid-state laser was used as light source in three different photoacoustic detection techniques: standard PAS with microphone, and external- and intra-cavity quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS), proving that solid-state laser is an attractive excitation source in photoacoustic spectroscopy.

A Review: Application and Implementation of Optic Fibre Sensors for Gas Detection

At the present time, there are major concerns regarding global warming and the possible catastrophic influence of greenhouse gases on climate change has spurred the research community to investigate and develop new gas-sensing methods and devices for remote and continuous sensing. Furthermore, there are a myriad of workplaces, such as petrochemical and pharmacological industries, where reliable remote gas tests are needed so that operatives have a safe working environment. The authors have concentrated their efforts on optical fibre sensing of gases, as we became aware of their increasing range of applications. Optical fibre gas sensors are capable of remote sensing, working in various environments, and have the potential to outperform conventional metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors. Researchers are studying a number of configurations and mechanisms to detect specific gases and ways to enhance their performances. Evidence is growing that optical fibre gas sensors are superior in a number of ways, and are likely to replace MOS gas sensors in some application areas. All sensors use a transducer to produce chemical selectivity by means of an overlay coating material that yields a binding reaction. A number of different structural designs have been, and are, under investigation. Examples include tilted Bragg gratings and long period gratings embedded in optical fibres, as well as surface plasmon resonance and intra-cavity absorption. The authors believe that a review of optical fibre gas sensing is now timely and appropriate, as it will assist current researchers and encourage research into new photonic methods and techniques.

Acoustic Optical Fiber Sensor Based on Graphene Oxide Membrane

A Fabry-Pérot acoustic sensor based on a graphene oxide membrane was developed with the aim to achieve a faster and simpler fabrication procedure when compared to similar graphene-based acoustic sensors. In addition, the proposed sensor was fabricated using methods that reduce chemical hazards and environmental impacts. The developed sensor, with an optical cavity of around 246 µm, showed a constant reflected signal amplitude of 6.8 ± 0.1 dB for 100 nm wavelength range. The sensor attained a wideband operation range between 20 and 100 kHz, with a maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 32.7 dB at 25 kHz. The stability and sensitivity to temperatures up to 90 °C was also studied. Moreover, the proposed sensor offers the possibility to be applied as a wideband microphone or to be applied in more complex systems for structural analysis or imaging.