Multiplexed continuous-wave diode-laser cavity ringdown measurements of multiple species

Optically Switched Dual-Wavelength Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer for High-Precision Isotope Ratio Measurements of Methane δD in the Near Infrared

We report a spectrometer employing optically switched dual-wavelength cavity ring-down spectroscopy (OSDW-CRDS) for high-precision measurements of methane isotope ratios. A waveguide optical switch rapidly alternated between two wavelengths to detect absorption by two isotopologues using near-infrared CRDS. This approach alleviated common-mode noise that originated primarily from temperature and frequency fluctuations. We demonstrated the measurement of δD in natural abundance methane to a precision of 2.3 ‰, despite the lack of active temperature or frequency stabilization of the cavity. The ability of alternating OSDW-CRDS to improve the isotope precision in the absence of cavity stabilization were measured by comparing the Allan deviation with that obtained when frequency-stabilizing the cavity length. The system can be extended to a wide variety of applications such as isotope analysis of other species, kinetic isotope effects, ortho-para ratio measurements, and isomer abundance measurements. Furthermore, our technique can be extended to multiple isotope analysis or two species involved in kinetics studies through the use of multiport or high-speed optical switches, respectively.

Random vibration-driven continuous-wave CRDS system for calibration-free gas concentration measurement

Random vibrations were employed to pick up each monochromatic component in a continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) system using a bichromatic laser source. Light frequencies were selected within flat portions of an absorption profile to suppress the jitter in laser frequency during measurements. An interference effect caused by cavity length variations was suppressed by optimizing the initial fit point for each ringdown transient. The difference in exponential decay rates of two frequencies determined the gas mole fraction, and no calibration of empty cavity losses was necessary. Experiments on varying humidity were conducted, and the results agreed with the readings of a commercial hygrometer.

Novel gas sensor combined active fiber loop ring-down and dual wavelengths differential absorption method

A novel active fiber loop ring-down gas sensor combined with dual wavelengths differential absorption method is proposed. Two Distributed Feedback Laser Diodes (DFB LDs) with different wavelengths are employed. One LD whose wavelength covered with the absorption line of target gas is used for sensing. Another LD whose wavelength is centered outside the absorption line is used for reference. The gas absorption loss can be obtained by differencing the reference signal and sensing signal. Compared with traditional method of one wavelength employed, it can eliminate the influence of the cavity loss variety and photoelectric device drift in the system efficiently. An Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) with Automatic Gain Control (AGC) is used to compensate the loss of the light in the ring-down cavity, which will increase the cavity round trips and improve the precision of gas detection. And two fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are employed to get rid of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) spectrum noise as filters. The calibrating ethyne samples of different concentrations are measured with a 65 mm long gas cell in order to evaluate the effect of reference. The results show the relative deviation is found to be less than ± 0.4% of 0.1% ethyne when a certain additional loss from 0 to 1.2dB is introduced to the cavity and the relative deviation of measured concentration is less than ± 0.5% over 24 hours.

Continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy based on the control of cavity reflection

A new type of continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectrometer based on the control of cavity reflection for trace gas detection was designed and evaluated. The technique separated the acquisitions of the ringdown event and the trigger signal to optical switch by detecting the cavity reflection and transmission, respectively. A detailed description of the time sequence of the measurement process was presented. In order to avoid the wrong extraction of ringdown time encountered accidentally in fitting procedure, the laser frequency and cavity length were scanned synchronously. Based on the statistical analysis of measured ringdown times, the frequency normalized minimum detectable absorption in the reflection control mode was 1.7 × 10(-9)cm(-1)Hz(-1/2), which was 5.4 times smaller than that in the transmission control mode. However the signal-to-noise ratio of the absorption spectrum was only 3 times improved since the etalon effect existed. Finally, the peak absorption coefficients of the C(2)H(2) transition near 1530.9nm under different pressures showed a good agreement with the theoretical values.

Simultaneous multi-laser, multi-species trace-level sensing of gas mixtures by rapidly swept continuous-wave cavity-ringdown spectroscopy

The greenhouse-gas molecules CO(2), CH(4), and H(2)O are detected in air within a few ms by a novel cavity-ringdown laser-absorption spectroscopy technique using a rapidly swept optical cavity and multi-wavelength coherent radiation from a set of pre-tuned near-infrared diode lasers. The performance of various types of tunable diode laser, on which this technique depends, is evaluated. Our instrument is both sensitive and compact, as needed for reliable environmental monitoring with high absolute accuracy to detect trace concentrations of greenhouse gases in outdoor air.

Spektroskopischer Einsatz neuer langwelliger (bis 2 μm) Diodenlaser (VCSEL) für schwierige Bedingungen (Spectroscopic Application of Long-Wavelength (< 2 μm) VCSEL Diode Lasers)

Oberflächenemittierende Diodenlaser (engl. VCSEL, Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser) werden zur raschen direkten In-situ-Molekülspektroskopie eingesetzt. Nach dem Verfahren der Absorptionsspektroskopie mittels durchstimmbarer Diodenlaser wird Sauerstoff bei 760 nm, Ammoniak bei 1540 nm, Methan bei 1680 nm sowie Chlorwasserstoff und Wasser bei 1810 nm detektiert. Druckverbreiterte und hochaufgelöste Spektren werden gezeigt und das Prinzip eines langzeitstabilen Spektrometers vorgestellt. Die Wellenlängenmodulation der VCSEL mit der Temperatur und dem Strom wird untersucht. Während der Temperaturkoeffizient in etwa derselbe ist wie für herkömmliche Diodenlaser im nahen Infrarot (DFB-Laser), lassen sich VCSEL deutlich weiter mit dem Strom durchstimmen. Darüber hinaus können VCSEL thermisch wesentlich schneller moduliert werden als konventionelle Kantenemitter. Repetitionsraten bis 5 MHz werden demonstriert. Die neu eröffneten Anwendungsfelder im Hinblick auf den weiten, modensprungfreien Durchstimmbereich (Messung bei hohem Druck, mehrere Spezies, Temperaturverteilungen) und die rasche Modulierbarkeit (Messung extrem transienter Prozesse) werden diskutiert. Weiter werden spektroskopisch interessante Eigentümlichkeiten der VCSEL (geringer Schwellstrom und Strombedarf als Vorteil für batteriebetriebene mobile Geräte, Austestmöglichkeit auf der Waferebene) beleuchtet. Die langwelligen VCSEL mit λ > 1 μm auf InP-Basis existieren noch nicht lange. Es wird angenommen, dass diese demnächst verstärkten Einzug in die Molekülspektroskopie halten werden und das Einsatzgebiet von auf Diodenlasern basierenden Geräten beträchtlich nach höheren Drücken und schwierigen Bedingungen hin erweitern werden.

Development of a multiple gas analyzer using cavity ringdown spectroscopy for use in advanced fire detection

A portable cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) apparatus was used to detect effluents from small test fires in the Fire Emulator/Detector Evaluator (FE/DE) and a small room in the Building Fire and Research Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The output from two lasers is combined to detect four combustion gases, CO, CO(2), HCN, and C(2)H(2), near simultaneously using CRDS. The goal of this work was to demonstrate the feasibility of using a CRDS sensor as a fire detector. Fire effluents were extracted from several test facilities and measurements of CO, CO(2), HCN, and C(2)H(2) were obtained every 25-30 s. In the FE/DE test, peak concentrations of the gases from smoldering paper were 420 parts in 10(6) (ppm) CO, 1600 ppm CO(2), 530 parts in 10(9) (ppb) HCN, and 440 ppb C(2)H(2). Peak gas concentrations from the small room were 270 ppm CO, 2100 ppm CO(2), and 310 ppb C(2)H(2).

Continuous-wave cavity ringdown absorption spectroscopy with a swept-frequency laser: rapid spectral sensing of gas-phase molecules

A cavity ringdown spectrometer, based on a continuous-wave swept-frequency laser, enables efficient, rapid recording of wide-ranging absorption spectra as characteristic spectral signatures of airborne molecules. The rapidly swept laser frequency resonates with the longitudinal modes of the ringdown cavity, effectively sampling the absorption spectrum of an intracavity gas at intervals defined by the cavity's free spectral range and generating a full absorption spectrum within a single rapid sweep of the widely tunable laser frequency. We report a new analog detection scheme that registers a single data point for each buildup and ringdown decay event without logging details of the full signal waveform; this minimizes demand on digitizer speed and memory depth, reducing the time scale of data processing. This results in a compact, robust, easy-to-use instrument that offers fresh prospects for spectroscopic sensing of trace species in the atmosphere.

Periodically locked continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy

We demonstrate a simple periodically locked cw cavity ringdown spectroscopy technique that enables a very large number of ringdown events to be rapidly acquired. An external cavity diode laser is locked to a high-finesse cavity, and as many as 16,000 ringdown events per second are obtained by periodically switching off the light entering the high-finesse cavity. Following each ringdown event, the light to the cavity is switched back on and cavity lock is rapidly reacquired. Limited only by our relatively modest digitization rate, we obtained a minimum detectable absorption loss of 4.7 x 10(-9) cm(-1), but we show that faster digitization could provide a sensitivity of 5.9 x 10(-10) cm(-1) Hz(-1/2).