A spectroscopic study of water vapor isotopologues H2O, H2O and HDO using a continuous wave DFB quantum cascade laser in the 6.7 μm region for atmospheric applications

A quantum cascade spectrometer was used in the laboratory to study H₂¹⁶O, H₂¹⁸O and HDO line intensities near 6.7 μm. The spectral region ranging from 1483 to 1487 cm⁻¹, which is suitable for the in situ laser sensing of these isotopologues in the atmosphere, was investigated using a continuous-wave distributed feed-back quantum cascade laser. Eight lines of water vapor isopologues were studied—one line of the ν₂ band of H₂¹⁶O, one line of the 2ν₂-ν₂ band of H₂¹⁶O, two lines of the ν₂ band of H₂¹⁸O and four lines of the ν₂ band of HDO were carefully revisited. The measured intensities were thoroughly compared to relevant molecular databases and other experimental and calculated results. We also observe that the H₂O, D₂O, HDO equilibrium constant agrees excellently with previously determined values.