Atmospheric observations of multiple molecular species using ultra-high-resolution external cavity quantum cascade laser heterodyne radiometry

We demonstrate a widely tunable laser heterodyne radiometer operating in the thermal IR during an atmospheric observation campaign in the solar occultation viewing mode. An external cavity quantum cascade laser tunable within a range of 1120 to 1238 cm(-1) is used as the local oscillator (LO) of the instrument. Ultra-high-resolution (60 MHz or 0.002 cm(-1) transmission spectroscopy of several atmospheric species (water vapor, ozone, nitrous oxide, methane, and dichlorodifluoromethane) has been demonstrated within four precisely selected molecule-specific narrow spectral windows (～1 cm(-1). Atmospheric transmission lines within each selected window were fully resolved through mode-hop-free continuous tuning of the LO frequency. Comparison measurements were made simultaneously with a high-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer to demonstrate the advantages of the laser heterodyne system for atmospheric sounding at high spectral and spatial resolutions.     

4.4 μm中红外激光外差光谱探测技术研究

在国内首次报道以窄线宽的4.4 μm外腔量子级联激光(QCL)作为本地振荡光源,黑体作为辐射光源的激光外差光谱实验装置的建立和测量工作。激光外差光谱是一种高灵敏度的光谱探测技术,并可以用于发展一种小型的光谱探测系统,进行地基或星载的地球大气或天文观测。介绍了激光外差的基本理论、装置的建立和实验测量工作。此激光外差光谱实验装置采用4.4 μm外腔量子级联激光,出光功率高达180 mW,在4.38～4.52 μm间连续可调,具有很宽的光谱调谐范围,能实现CO₂,CO和N₂O等大气重要分子的同时测量。通过开展不同压力下CO₂气体的激光外差光谱测量,对激光外差光谱实验装置的性能进行了评估。目前该激光外差系统的信噪比达到86,低于散粒噪声极限条件的理论计算值287,系统的光谱分辨率约为0.007 8 cm-1,能满足较窄线宽条件下的高分辨率激光外差光谱的测量。分析结果表明,中红外激光外差光谱系统具有很高的瞬态信噪比及光谱分辨率,在高精度测量大气温室气体的柱浓度和温室气体垂直廓线分布方面具有广阔的应用前景。     

Quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy with a 3.38 μm antimonide distributed feedback laser

A system for gas sensing based on the quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy technique has been developed. It makes use of a quantum well distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode emitting at 3.38 μm. This laser emits near room temperature in the continuous wave regime. A spectrophone, consisting of a quartz tuning fork and two steel microresonators were used. Second derivative wavelength modulation detection is used to perform low concentration measurements. The sensitivity and the linearity of the Quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) sensor were studied. A normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient of 4.06×10(-9) cm(-1)·W/Hz(1/2) was achieved.     

基于中红外分布反馈量子级联激光器的光声光谱技术用于痕量甲烷气体检测

由于工业监控和环境检测的需要,甲烷气体检测日益得到人们的关注。研究了基于中红外分布反馈量子级联激光器(DFB-QCL)的光声光谱技术,并应用于痕量甲烷的检测。自主研发的DFB-QCL室温工作时的激射波长在7.6μm附近,覆盖了甲烷的特征吸收谱线1 316.83cm-1。待测甲烷气体充入亥姆霍兹光声谐振腔中,DFB-QCL的工作频率为234Hz、室温脉冲工作时峰值功率为80mW。中红外光经过甲烷吸收后,产生的声波信号经麦克风检测,由锁相放大器对信号进行采集并输入计算机进行处理。按信噪比为1计算,得到甲烷的探测极限为189nmol.mol-1。     

External-cavity quantum cascade lasers with fast wavelength scanning

Fast wavelength scanning of an external-cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) has been developed using a modified Littrow-type cavity configuration. Scan rates up to 5 kHz and tuning ranges up to 7 cm⁻¹ have been realized using folded cavity arrangement with a fast piezoactuated intracavity mirror to vary the effective diffraction grating angle. High-resolution molecular spectroscopy, limited primarily by the effective laser linewidth, has been demonstrated in pulsed and CW mode using direct absorption spectroscopy of ammonia and ethylene in the 10-μm wavelength region. A high-resolution broadband spectral scan employing mode-hop-free tuning of a set of discrete laser modes within the fast frequency scan has been developed. The method has been demonstrated by performing high-resolution broadband spectrum of ethylene under atmospheric and reduced pressures.     

An IH-QCL based gas sensor for simultaneous detection of methane and acetylene

Extended wavelength tuning of an IH-QCL (integrated heater quantum cascade laser) is exploited for simultaneous detection of methane and acetylene using direct absorption spectroscopy. The integrated heater, placed within few microns of the laser active region, enables wider wavelength tuning than would be possible with a conventional DFB (distributed feedback) QCL. In this work, the laser current and heater resistor current are modulated simultaneously at 25?kHz to tune the laser over 1279.6–1280.1 cm^?1, covering absorption transitions of methane and acetylene. The laser is characterized extensively to understand the dependence of wavelength tuning on modulation frequency, modulation amplitude and phase difference between laser/heater modulation. Thereafter, the designed sensor is validated in both room-temperature static cell experiments and non-reactive high-temperature-measurements in methane-acetylene-argon gas mixtures in the shock tube. Finally, the sensor is applied for simultaneous detection of methane and acetylene during the high-temperature pyrolysis of iso-octane behind reflected shock waves.     

基于中红外量子级联激光器和石英增强光声光谱的CO超高灵敏度检测研究

采用石英增强光声光谱(QEPAS)技术对CO痕量气体展开检测研究. 为了实现超高灵敏度探测, 采用输出波长为4.6 μm的新颖中红外高功率分布反馈量子级联激光器为光源, 实现了对CO气体基频吸收带的激发与测量. 在优化了调制深度、气体压强和提高了CO分子的振动-转动弛豫速率后, 获得了1.95 ppbv的优异探测极限. 在分析检测结果的过程中, 讨论了能级寿命对信号强度的影响, 并对QEPAS信号强度的表达式进行了修正.     

A QEPAS based methane sensor with a 2.35 μm antimonide laser

A methane sensor based on quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy was developed. An antimonide quantum-well diode laser was used as an excitation source. The GaInAsSb/AlGaAsSb laser was fabricated by molecular beam epitaxy on GaSb substrate. This diode laser emits in the 2.35 μm range at room temperature in the continuous wave regime. A spectrophone constituted of a quartz tuning fork and two steel microresonators was used. The analysis of the sensor response with one, two or without microresonators is presented. Second derivative wavelength modulation detection was used to perform low concentrations measurements, thus we obtained a CH₄ detection limit of 1 ppmv.     

Gas-phase photoacoustic sensor at 8.41 μm using quartz tuning forks and amplitude-modulated quantum cascade lasers

We demonstrate the performance of a novel infrared photoacoustic laser absorbance sensor for gas-phase species using an amplitude-modulated quantum cascade (QC) laser and a quartz tuning fork microphone. The photoacoustic signal was generated by focusing 5.3 mW of a Fabry–Pérot QC laser operating at 8.41 μm between the tines of a quartz tuning fork which served as a transducer for the transient acoustic pressure wave. The sensitivity of this sensor was calibrated using the infrared absorber Freon 134a by performing a simultaneous absorption measurement using a 31-cm absorption cell. The power and bandwidth normalized noise equivalent absorption sensitivity (NEAS) of this sensor was determined to be D=2.0×10^-8 W cm^-1/Hz^1/2. A corresponding theoretical analysis of the instrument sensitivity is presented and is capable of quantitatively reproducing the experimental NEAS, indicating that the fundamental sensitivity of this technique is limited by the noise floor of the tuning fork itself. PACS 43.60.Vx; 43.58.Wc; 43.58.Hp; 84.40.Xb     

Mid-infrared fiber-coupled QCL-QEPAS sensor

An innovative spectroscopic system based on an external cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) coupled with a mid-infrared (mid-IR) fiber and quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) is described. SF₆ has been selected as a target gas in demonstration of the system for trace gas sensing. Single mode laser delivery through the prongs of the quartz tuning fork has been obtained employing a hollow waveguide fiber with inner silver–silver iodine (Ag–AgI) coatings and internal core diameter of 300 μm. A detailed design and realization of the QCL fiber coupling and output collimator system allowed almost practically all (99.4 %) of the laser beam to be transmitted through the spectrophone module. The achieved sensitivity of the system is 50 parts per trillion in 1 s, corresponding to a record for QEPAS normalized noise-equivalent absorption of 2.7 × 10^?10 W cm^?1 Hz^?1/2.     

Photoacoustic spectroscopy with quantum cascade distributed-feedback lasers

We present photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopy measurements of carbon dioxide, methanol, and ammonia. The light source for the excitation was a single-mode quantum cascade distributed-feedback laser, which was operated in pulsed mode at moderate duty cycle and slightly below room temperature. Temperature tuning resulted in a typical wavelength range of 3cm(-1)at a linewidth of 0.2cm(-1). The setup was based on a Herriott multipass arrangement around the PA cell; the cell was equipped with a radial 16-microphone array to increase sensitivity. Despite the relatively small average laser power, the ammonia detection limit was 300 parts in 10(9)by volume.     

Trace Moisture Measurement with 5. 2 mu m Quantum Cascade Laser Based Continuous-Wave Cavity Ring-Down SpectroscopyEI北大核心CSCD

Trace moisture concentration in high-purity gases is an important parameter in semiconductor manufacturing because many manufacturing processes are sensitive to moisture even on the level of parts per billion by volume (ppbv). Detection of trace moisture in mid-infrared spectral region is beneficial due to more abundant and stronger spectral lines in this region. Recently, Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) with high output power, narrow line-width, and high reliability have been developing rapidly and have become promising light sources for sensitive spectroscopic measurements. By employing a 5. 2 mu m external-cavity tunable quantum cascade laser, a continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) experimental setup is established and applied to detect trace moisture in high-purity nitrogen gas. In the experiment, the CRDS signal is averaged to improve the detection sensitivity, and the optimal averaging number is determined by Allan variance calculation to be 602. For trace moisture detection, the absorption cross-section of H2O in the spectral range between 1 905 and 1 925 cm(-1) is simulated according to the HITRAN database and the optimal detection spectral line is chosen. Detected at 1 918 cm(-1) absorption line at 296 K temperature and 1 atm pressure, the measured moisture concentration is in good agreement with the nominal value, and the minimum detectable moisture concentration of 24. 8 ppbv is achieved when cavity mirrors with reflectance of 99.93% are used. The experimental results show that mid-infrared cavity ring-down spectroscopy technique has great potential in a wide variety of applications, such as industrial production control, environmental monitoring and health diagnosis, etc.     

External cavity quantum cascade laser for quartz tuning fork photoacoustic spectroscopy of broad absorption features

We demonstrate mid-infrared spectroscopy of large molecules with broad absorption features using a tunable external cavity quantum cascade laser. Absorption spectra for two different Freons are measured over the range 1130-1185 cm(-1) with 0.2 cm(-1) resolution via laser photoacoustic spectroscopy with quartz tuning forks as acoustic transducers. The measured spectra are in excellent agreement with published reference absorption spectra.     

差频可调谐太赫兹技术的新进展

太赫兹技术在最近30年来得到快速发展, 并在医学、生物、农业、材料、安检、通信、天文等领域得到广泛应用. 从太赫兹源的频谱特性可以分为窄带(单频)太赫兹源和宽带太赫兹源. 从频谱技术方面来说, 相干的宽带和窄带太赫兹谱是一种互补性关系, 具有各自的技术特点和应用范围. 宽带太赫兹谱可以用于快速获取较宽频谱范围的分子振转谱, 实现混合特征谱的快速检测或成像. 窄带太赫兹源具有很好的光谱灵敏度和分辨率, 适用于太赫兹抽运-探测、分子振转能级谱精细结构分辨 以及太赫兹远程探测和成像. 因此研制具有可调谐的高峰值功率的窄带太赫兹源是适用于探测和识别分子振转能级指纹谱的应用需求, 而差频技术是获得高功率和宽调谐窄带太赫兹源最重要的技术之一. 为了突出该技术的最新进展, 本综述引证论文仅仅限于近5 年来基于差频技术产生太赫兹波的研究进展, 分为光学激光差频源和量子级联激光器差频源两大部分. 对于光学激光差频源, 分别对目前文献报道的各种双波长差频源和太赫兹产生用的非线性晶体进行分类介绍, 并给出所采用的技术和实验结果; 对于量子级联激光器差频源, 分别介绍了量子级联激光器中的差频产生技术和波长调谐技术的最新进展. 量子级联激光器差频太赫兹源是目前实现量子级联激光器在太赫兹波段室温运转的惟一技术, 是实现小型化、窄带宽调谐和室温运转太赫兹源的新发展领域, 值得关注.     

Photoacoustic monitoring of trace gases by use of a diode-based difference frequency laser source

We present a compact mid-infrared laser spectrometer for trace-gas monitoring. Difference frequency generation in periodically poled LiNbO(3) is used as laser source, yielding a tuning range 3.2-3.7mum at a linewidth of 154 MHz. The relatively high average power of 3 to 5 mW favors detection with a small resonant photoacoustic gas cell. Measurements of methane yield a detection limit in the low parts in 10(6) by volume concentration range.     

基于泛频振动的石英增强光声光谱测声器优化设计

为了进一步提高基于泛频振动的石英增强光声光谱测声器探测灵敏度,在一次泛频振动模式下采用一个比商用标准音叉外形尺寸大5倍的定制大音叉,并对其性能进行优化.通过理论和实验研究得出了音叉与激光的最佳作用位置,发现音叉的一次泛频振动有两个波腹点,且在距离音叉根部8 mm处,音叉振臂的振动幅度最大.微型声音谐振腔由三种不同内径的不锈钢毛细管加工而成,与音叉组成共轴配置石英增强光声光谱光谱测声器,用来进一步增强信号幅值.在最佳微型声音谐振腔配置下,获得了30倍的信号增益因子,有效提高了石英增强光声光谱光谱测声器的探测灵敏度.     

Laser-based systems for trace gas detection in life sciences

Infrared gas phase spectroscopy is becoming very common in many life science applications. Here we present three types of trace gas detection systems based on CO₂ laser and continuous wave (cw) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) in combination with photoacoustic spectroscopy and cw quantum cascade laser (QCL) in combination with wavelength modulation spectroscopy. Examples are included to illustrate the suitability of CO₂ laser system to monitor in real time ethylene emission from various dynamic processes in plants and microorganisms as well as from car exhausts. The versatility of an OPO-based detector is demonstrated by simultaneous detection of ¹³C-methane and ¹²C-methane (at 3240 nm) at similar detection limits of 0.1 parts per billion by volume. Recent progress on a QCL-based spectrometer using a continuous wave QCL (output power 25 mW, tuning range of 1891–1908 cm^-1) is presented and a comparison is made to a standard chemiluminescence instrument for analysis of NO in exhaled breath. PACS  42.62 Be; 42.62 Fi     

基于7.6μm量子级联激光的光声光谱探测N_2O气体

近年来,气候变化对地球的生态环境产生严重影响,而大气温室气体在气候变化中具有重要的作用.一氧化二氮(N_2O)作为一种重要的温室气体,其浓度变化对大气环境产生重要影响,因此对其浓度的探测在大气环境研究中具有重要意义.本文开展了基于中国自主研发的7.6μm中红外量子级联激光的共振型光声光谱探测N_2O的研究,建立了N_2O光声光谱传感实验系统.此系统在传统的光声光谱探测的基础上优化改进,采用双光束增强的方式,增加了有效光功率,进一步提高了系统的探测灵敏度.探测系统以1307.66 cm~(-1)处的N_2O吸收谱线作为探测对象,结合波长调制技术对N_2O气体进行探测研究.通过对一定浓度的N_2O气体在不同调制频率和调制振幅的光声信号的探测,确定了系统的最佳调制频率和调制振幅分别为800 Hz和90 mV.在最优实验条件下对不同浓度的N_2O气体进行了测量,获得了系统的信号浓度定标曲线.实验表明,在锁相积分时间为30 ms时,系统的浓度探测极限为150×10~(-9).通过100次平均后,系统噪声进一步降低,实现了大气N_2O的探测,浓度探测极限达到了37×10~(-9).     

5.2μm量子级联激光器光腔衰荡光谱技术的痕量水汽检测

高纯气体中水汽含量是半导体工业生产中的一个重要参数,气体中残余水汽含量即使是ppbv量级也会对产品质量产生影响。气体在中红外区域具有更丰富的特征谱线,在该区域对水汽含量进行检测十分必要。宽调谐范围、高输出功率和窄线宽量子级联激光器的快速发展,推动了该区域红外光谱检测技术的发展。首次在中红外波段,采用5.2μm可调谐量子级联激光器,基于连续光腔衰荡光谱技术建立了痕量水汽的检测装置,并开展了痕量水汽检测实验。通过阿伦方差分析系统噪声水平,确定了光腔衰荡信号最优平均次数为602次。根据HITRAN数据库,模拟实验条件下1 905~1 925cm~(-1)范围内水汽的吸收截面,选取最佳的检测谱线位置。在常压和室温下,对1 918cm~(-1)附近的水汽吸收光谱进行测量,测定高纯氮气中的痕量水汽浓度,检测结果与标称值一致。在腔镜反射率为99.93%时水汽的检测灵敏度达到24.8ppbv。分析结果表明,中红外高灵敏痕量气体检测技术在工业监测、环境检测以及医学诊断等领域具有很好的应用前景。     

Compact sensor for methane detection in the mid infrared region based on Quartz Enhanced Photoacoustic Spectroscopy

A compact system for methane sensing based on the Quartz-Enhanced Photoacoustic Spectroscopy technique has been developed. This development has been taken through two versions which were based respectively on a Fabry Perot quantum wells diode laser emitting at 2.3 μm, and on a quantum wells distributed feedback diode laser emitting at 3.26 μm. These lasers emit near room temperature in the continuous wave regime. A spectrophone consisting of a quartz tuning fork and one steel microresonator was used. Second derivative wavelength modulation detection was used to perform low methane concentration measurements. The sensitivity and the linearity of the QEPAS sensor were studied. A normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient of 7.26 × 10⁻⁶ cm⁻¹ W/Hz^1/2 was achieved. This corresponds to a detection limit of 15 ppmv for 12 s acquisition time.