Spectroscopic detection of aircraft wake gases

Using the technique of limiting information-metric scales, the potential of laser IR absorption spectroscopy for detecting small gas components of aircraft wake was quantitatively analyzed. Formulas for minimum distinguishable and minimum detectable gas concentrations were derived. Calculation was carried out for SO₂, NO, and NO₂ under typical conditions near the Boeing 707 aircraft engine nozzle at altitude H = 12.2 km. Alternative IR laser spectroscopy methods for detecting various gas components in the near wake were considered. Two possibilities to improve the concentration measurement sensitivity were analyzed: (i) a decrease in the background absorption of CO₂ and H₂O and (ii) an increase in the absorption cross section of detected gas.     

Luminescence and lasing properties of neodymium- and uranium-activated inorganic laser liquids

An attempt was made to describe and show the possibilities of new inorganic neodynium- and uranium-activated laser liquids: SO₂-GaCl₃-NdCl₄; SO₂Cl₂-GaCl₃-NdCl₃-UO₂Cl₂; POCl₂-MCl_n-NdCl₃-UO₂Cl₂ for development and synthesis of direct nuclear reaction-excited lasers. Luminescence data presented in the work were used to calculate the luminescence parameters of the laser liquids such as oscillator strengths f, probability of spontaneous radiation A, intermultiplet luminescence branching coefficient β, cross-section for induced radiation σ, luminescence decay time τ, quantum yield η, and others. It is shown that the oscillator strengths of the normal absorption bands of Na³⁺, which play the main part in the pumping processes, exceed the oscillator strengths of Na³⁺ for aqueous and many other nonaqueous systems. In the luminescence excitation spectra of the Na³⁺ ion, bands are isolated in the range 400–1000 nm atλ _rec =1.06 μm. With excitation, luminescence occurs through the⁴F_3/2→⁴I_{9/2,11/2.13/2} channels. Luminescence spectral data are related to the lasing parameters. The threshold lasing energy is∼18 J/cm³. For a resonator with mirros h₁=100% and h₂=20, 40, 56, and 80%, the lasing energy is∼20–120 MJ/cm³ in the pumping energy range 18–180 J/cm³. The differential efficiency is ∼0.2% The substantial angular radiation divergence (θ∼4·10⁻² rad) and strong thermostatic distortions that occur in the active element (dn/dT≈−1.9·10⁻⁴K⁻¹) are a disadvantage of laser liquids. It is shown that operation of neodymium- and uranium-activated inorganic liquid lasers is stable under the present conditions. A. I. Gertsen Russian State Pedagogical University, Moika Embankment, 48, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russia. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 64, No. 5, pp. 607–619, September–October, 1997.     

Absorption spectra of benzene-isooctane mixtures in the wavelength range 1620–1820 nm

Experimental absorption spectra of benzene, isooctane, and their mixtures are obtained in the wavelength range λ = 1620–1820 nm in which the first overtones of vibrational frequencies of CH, CH₂, and CH₃ hydrocarbon groups are located. Positions of fundamental absorption bands of benzene are refined. Absorption spectra of benzene-isooctane mixtures are shown to intersect in a narrow area near λ ≈ 1695 nm. The main maximum of benzene absorption at λ = 1671.5 ± 0.5 nm, where the influence of isooctane absorption is practically absent, is proposed for determining the content of benzene in benzene-isooctane mixtures. A linear calibration curve for λ = 1671.5 nm that encompasses the full range of benzene concentrations (0–100%) is presented. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 75, No. 5, pp. 631–634, September–October, 2008.     

Optoacoustic gas analyzer based on a13C16O2 laser for multicomponent pollution of air

A computer-aided optoacoustic gas analyzer based on a continuous¹³C¹⁶C₂ laser for multicomponent pollution of atmospheric air is described. The analyzer has the ability to detect absorption of radiation by detected substances at the level of ∼1·10⁻⁹ cm⁻¹ at a time resolution of 30 sec. Results of an experiment on simultaneous detection of H₂O, CO₂, NO₂, NH₃, HNO₃, OCS, and C₂H₄ in the atmospheric air using 40 laser lines are presented. B. I. Stepanov Institute of Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 68, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 66, No. 3, pp. 345–350, May–June, 1999.     

Optoacoustic laser spectroscopy of excited vibrational molecular states

A new detection method for absorption from excited vibrational states is suggested, based on optoacoustic detection of weak absorption in a heated gas. Using this method CO₂ laser radiation (λ=9.6 μm) absorption was investigated from excited vibrational states of CO₂, BCl₃, and BF₃ molecules.     

Atmospheric modelling using FASCOD to identify CO2 absorption bands and their suitability analysis in variable concentrations for remote sensing applications

Recent climate studies have proven that both temperature and CO₂ content of the earth's atmosphere followed a regular 100,000-year cycle of change and that they are closely correlated. Moreover, the observed increase of CO₂ in the atmosphere exceeds the predicted values extrapolated from historical data. Other than industrialization and rapid urbanization, geo-natural hazards such as leakage from hydrocarbon reservoirs and spontaneous combustion of coal contribute a considerable amount of CO₂ to the atmosphere. Several researchers have studied the possibilities and reliabilities of atmospheric CO₂ retrieval by the point-based method (nearly accurate but much localized) and globally (wider observation but many uncertainties). Radiative transfer codes, such as FASCOD (Fast Atmospheric Signature Code) with the HITRAN (High-Resolution Transmission) spectral database can simulate atmospheric transmission and path radiance with customized gas composition (CO₂, water vapour, CO, etc.) and concentration in order to understand the phenomena in a specific wavelength region. In the present study, a number of atmospheric models were constructed with different CO₂ concentrations (ppmv) with a combination of water vapour and other atmospheric gases such as CO, CH₄, N₂O, SO₂, etc., to find out the interference patterns of these gases over CO₂ absorption bands. The transmission features of these gas combinations were analysed by partial least-squares regression models. These models show that the most suitable CO₂ absorption bands are located around 2 μm, such as 1.998 and 2.001 μm. The spectral information derived from different concentrations of CO₂ can be fitted in multivariate models to predict the CO₂ concentration from spectral information in a controlled environment. Furthermore, the present study explores the sensitivity of some available remote sensing sensors in variable CO₂ concentrations for use in real world.     

Remote detection of sulfur dioxide by means of a CO2 laser

The possibility of remote detection of SO₂ in the 9-μm region of the spectrum by means of a TEA CO₂ laser was theoretically and experimentally investigated with regard to the real state of the atmosphere and the contribution of background concentrations of H₂O, CO₂ and NH₃ to absorption. For sounding along short paths (2L=2 km), the method of detection of small concentrations of SO₂ (at the MPC level) with the use of the lines of the CO₂-molecule regular transitions (00^o1–02^o0 band) has been devised and experimentally tested. It is shown that in sounding along longer paths (2L=6 km), a noticeable increase in sensitivity can be achieved by the generation lines of the CO₂-molecule sequential 00^o2–02^o1 band. B. I. Stepanov Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, 70, F. Skorina Ave., Minsk, 220072, Belarus. Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 65, No. 4, pp. 508–515, July–August, 1998.     

Synthesis,X-Ray Crystal Structures and Optical Properties of Novel Substituted Pyrazoly 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Derivatives

Novel pyrazoly 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives were synthesized and characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, HRMS and X-ray diffraction analysis. UV–vis absorption and fluorescence properties of these compounds in different solutions showed that the maximum absorption wavelength was not significantly changed in different solvents; however, maximal emission wavelength was red-shifted with the increase of solvent polarity. Absorption λ_max and emission λ_max was less correlated with substituent groups on aryl rings.     

High sensitivity detection of trace gases at atmospheric pressure using tunable diode lasers

A detailed study of the detection of trace gases at atmospheric pressure using tunable diode lasers is described. The influence of multipass cells, retroreflectors and topographical targets is examined. The minimum detectable infrared absorption ranges from 0.1% for a pathlength of 1.2 km to 0.01% over short pathlengths. The factors which limit this sensitivity are discussed, and the techniques are illustrated by monitoring atmospheric CO₂ and CH₄.     

Radiation Source in the Ranges 2.1–2.3 and 3.7–4.3 μm for the Spectroscopy of the Atmosphere

To expand the possibilities of spectroscopic systems based on a CO₂ laser, we have mixed the frequencies of its radiation with the radiation of erbium lasers. Simultaneous use of Er³⁺:CaF₂ ( = 2.76 m) and Er³⁺:YAG lasers ( = 2.96 m) makes it possible for the spectrum of generated sum and difference frequencies to overlap the ranges 2.2–2.3 and 3.6–4.3 m that coincide with the atmospheric transparency windows. Generation of the difference frequencies of radiation of erbium lasers and of the 10.6-m radiation of a CO₂ laser were observed in CdSe at a phase-matching angle of 72°40. In a bleached CdSe crystal of length 40 mm the efficiency of transformation has attained 12%. To sum up the frequencies, 4.5-mm ZnGeP₂ crystals were used, with the efficiency of transformation being 3% and the phase-matching angle being equal to 52°.     

Critical temperature of Bose-Einstein condensation for weakly interacting bose gas in a potential trap

It has been a long history to study Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) of weakly in-teracting Bose gas, and several theoretical models have been developed to research uni-form and weakly interacting Bose gas. Ref. [1] summarized all of these models and the corresponding results, which gave a derivation of critical temperature from ideal case 1/30Tc c n,?T = α (1) with a wide spread of parameter c from 0.7 to 2.33, where α is the scattering length of s wave and n is atom number density. Due…     

Lidar Network System for Monitoring the Atmospheric Environment in Jakarta City

A lidar network system consisting of two Mie scattering lidars and one differential absorption lidar was developed to measure the atmospheric environment in Jakarta. The three lidars were installed at three locations in Jakarta to study atmospheric boundary layer structure and transportation of atmospheric pollutants. The Mie scattering lidars employ compact flashlamp pumped Nd:YAG lasers operated at 1064 nm fundamental. They are installed in shelters and directed vertically. One of the Mie lidar has a rotating wedged window for scanning conically to measure wind velocity using a correlation method. The DIAL system employs two Nd:YAG laser-pumped optical parametric oscillators. The DIAL is designed to measure distribution of ozone and SO₂ in the near UV region, and NO₂ in the 450-nm region. The system is installed in a shelter and has a full scanning capability.     

Photoacoustic spectroscopy for trace gas detection with cryogenic and room-temperature continuous-wave quantum cascade lasers

The main characteristics that a sensor must possess for trace gas detection and pollution monitoring are high sensitivity, high selectivity and the capability to perform in situ measurements. The photacoustic Helmholtz sensor developed in Reims, used in conjunction with powerful Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs), fulfils all these requirements. The best cell response is # 1200 V W⁻¹ cm and the corresponding ultimate sensitivity is j 3.3 × 10⁻¹⁰ W cm⁻¹¹ Hz^−11/2. This efficient sensor is used with mid-infrared QCLs from Alpes Lasers to reach the strong fundamental absorption bands of some atmospheric gases. A first cryogenic QCL emitting at 7.9 μm demonstrates the detection of methane in air with a detection limit of 3 ppb. A detection limit of 20 ppb of NO in air is demonstrated using another cryogenic QCL emitting in the 5.4 μm region. Real in-situ measurements can be achieved only with room-temperature QCLs. A room-temperature QCL emitting in the 7.9 μm region demonstrates the simultaneous detection of methane and nitrous oxide in air (17 and 7 ppb detection limit, respectively). All these reliable measurements allow the estimated detection limit for various atmospheric gases using quantum cascade lasers to be obtained. Each gas absorbing in the infrared may be detected at a detection limit in the ppb or low-ppb range.     

Off-axis continuous-wave cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy of narrow-band and broadband absorbers using red diode lasers

We present an application of continuous-wave (cw) cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (CEAS) with off-axis alignment geometry of the cavity and with time integration of the cavity output intensity for detection of narrow-band and broadband absorbers using single-mode red diode lasers at λ=687.1 nm and λ=662 nm, respectively. Off-axis cw CEAS was applied to kinetic studies of the nitrate radical using a broadband absorption line at λ=662 nm. A rate constant for the reaction between the nitrate radical and E-but-2-eneof (3.78±0.17)×10^-13 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 was measured using a discharge-flow system. A nitrate-radical noise-equivalent (1σ≡ root-mean-square variation of the signal) detection sensitivity of 5.5×10⁹ molecule cm^-3 was achieved in a flow tube with a diameter of 4 cm and for a mirror reflectivity of ∼99.9% and a lock-in amplifier time constant of 3 s. In this case, a noise-equivalent fractional absorption per one optical pass of 1.6×10^-6 was demonstrated at a detection bandwidth of 1 Hz. A wavelength-modulation technique (modulation frequency of 10 kHz) in conjunction with off-axis cw CEAS has also been used for recording 1f- and 2f-harmonic spectra of the ^RR(15) absorption of the b¹Σ_g ⁺-X³Σ_g ^- (1,0) band of molecular oxygen at =14553.947 cm^-1. Noise-equivalent fractional absorptions per one optical pass of 1.35×10^-5, 6.9×10^-7 and 1.9×10^-6 were obtained for direct detection of the time-integrated cavity output intensity, 1f- and 2f-harmonic detection, respectively, with a mirror reflectivity of ∼99.8%, a cavity length of 0.22 m and a detection bandwidth of 1 Hz. Received: 24 June 2002 / Revised version: 12 August 2002 / Published online: 15 November 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +44-1865/275410, E-mail: vlk@physchem.ox.ac.uk     

Electron-beam-pumped infrared and visible lasers

This paper presents the results of investigations of lasing by electronic transitions of xenon, krypton, and neon atoms, cadmium and zinc ions, and nitrogen molecules and by oscillatory transitions of HF molecules. The processes responsible for the efficiency of each of the lasers have been studied. The maximum radiation energies achieved are as follows: up to 200 J at λ∼2.8 μm for a mixture of H₂−SF₆, up to 100 J at λ-1.73 μm and up to 50 J at λ=2.03 μm for xenon, up to 3 J at λ=358 nm for a mixture of Ar−N₂, and up to 0.5 J at λ=585.5 nm for neon. Institute of High-Current Electronics, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 5, pp. 34–44, April, 2000.     

Pulsed cavity ring-down spectroscopy of NO and NO2 in the exhaust of a diesel engine

The application of pulsed cavity ring-down spectroscopy has been demonstrated for the in situ quantitative determination of NO and NO₂ in the exhaust of a diesel engine. NO absorption has been monitored at the transition from the Χ²Π ground state to the A²Σ⁺ state at 226 nm. For NO₂, absorption bands in the spectral region from 438 nm to 450 nm were used. At the selected engine conditions, concentrations of 212±22 ppm and 29±4 ppm have been measured for NO and NO₂, respectively, in good agreement with separate chemical exhaust gas analysis. The method is sensitive enough to meet the European Euro V standard directive on NO_x emissions. This communication discusses the relatively simple setup needed for this type of measurement, the problems encountered, as well as the prospects for single-stroke, simultaneous measurements of both NO and NO₂ at the sub-ppm level. Received: 30 November 2001 / Revised version: 18 February 2002 / Published online: 14 March 2002     

First lasers created at the Institute of High Current Electronics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Siberian Division)

This paper presents the designs and radiation characteristics for lasers operating by self-limited transitions of nitrogen (λ=337.1 nm) and neon (λ=614.3 nm) and pumped by a pulsed longitudinal discharge, and for atmosphericCO ₂ lasers (λ=10.6 μm) pumped by a transverse electron-beam-initiated discharge or by a transverse discharge with uv preionization. These lasers were put into operation at IHCE in 1969 (the nitrogen and neon lasers), in 1971 (theCO ₂ laser pumped by an electron-beam-initiated discharge), and in 1972 (theCO ₂ laser pumped by a transverse discharge with uv preionization). Institute of High Current Electronics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 8, pp. 14–17, August, 1999.     

Dual-beam laser analyzer for inhomogeneities in active regions of multielement photodetectors

We describe equipment and a procedure for measuring inhomogeneities in active regions of solar cells, photoelectric transducers, and multielement photodetectors, based on a computer-controlled dual-beam laser scanner including a Pentium III personal computer, an HP-34401A digital multimeter with RS-232 serial interface;, a platform movable along the Y coordinate with the sample multielement photodetector to be tested and a microprobe device for picking up the photocurrents, an optical head with laser photodiodes in the visible (λ₁ = 0.68 μm) and IR (λ₂ = 0.82 μm) ranges scanning along the X coordinate, and a control unit for focusing the laser beams λ₁, λ₂, stabilizing the laser radiation power, and controlling the step motors for the X,Y coordinates. The equipment and procedure enable laser scanning of sample multielement photodetectors, with external dimensions 10 × 10 μm2 to 150 × 150 mm², along the X, Y coordinates at a maximum rate of 100 mm/sec; minimum radiation power of the laser diodes, 10 mW; range of laser beam diameters, 2–50 μm; range of scanning steps along the X, Y coordinates, 5–100 μm; current sensitivity 1·10⁻⁸ A, voltage sensitivity 1·10⁻⁷ V; measurement and analysis accuracy at least 0.5%; storage of color plots of the inhomogeneities in the active regions of the multielement photodetectors on the hard disk of the personal computer, with output of analysis results to a monitor and color printer, 32 color gradations. Software written in Delphi 7.0. __________ Translated from Zhurnal Prikladnoi Spektroskopii, Vol. 73, No. 2, pp. 277–280, March–April, 2006.     

Preparation, structures and photoluminescent enhancement effect of PbWO4–TiO2 composite nanofilms

A novel route for preparing PbWO₄–TiO₂ nanofilms on a glass substrate is firstly proposed. The collodion is used as a dispersant and film-forming agent. The nanofilms are characterized through SEM, XRD, TG/DTA, PL and IR, respectively. The results of XRD indicate PbWO₄ particles with tetragonal scheelite structure and TiO₂ particles with Anatase phase, and SEM shows they are well dispersed in the substrate. Compared with nanoparticles, when TiO₂ nanoparticles are added in 5% ratio, the PL intensities at 395 nm of PbWO₄ nanofilms are enhanced obviously. IR spectrum reveals a large absorption band between 750 and 870 cm⁻¹, which is the W–O stretching vibration in WO₄ tetrahedron.     

CO2-laser photoacoustic detection of gaseous n-pentylacetate

The absorption spectra of gaseous n-pentylacetate were investigated by FT IR spectroscopy as well as CO₂-laser photoacoustic spectroscopy for simulation of the dispersion of a nerve agent (sarin) within a modeled atmospheric boundary layer. Three CO₂-laser emission lines were used for photoacoustic detection of n-pentylacetate with detection limit in the range of 1-3 ppm.