Highly stable piezoelectrically tunable optical cavities

We have studied the effect on 2nd harmonic wavelength modulation spectroscopy of the use of integrating spheres as multipass gas cells. The gas lineshape becomes distorted at high concentrations, as a consequence of the exponential pathlength distribution of the sphere, introducing nonlinearity beyond that expected from the Beer–Lambert law. We have modelled this numerically for methane absorption at 1.651 μm, with gas concentrations in the range of 0–2.5 %vol in air. The results of this model compare well with experimental measurements. The nonlinearity for the 2fWMS measurements is larger than that for direct scan measurements; if this additional effect were not accounted for, the resulting error would be approximately 20 % of the reading at a concentration of 2.5 %vol methane.     

CO2 sensor for mainstream capnography based on TDLAS

The setup and signal processing for a mainstream capnography sensor is presented in this paper. The probe exhibits an optical path length of 2.5 cm and is equipped with a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser at 2 μm. The sensor does not need any calibration, since the CO₂ absorption line as well as the laser background is measured using direct tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. Unavoidable optical fringes are reduced with a self-developed fringe rejection method. The sensor achieves a concentration resolution <300 ppmv at 4 vol% and a measurement rate >30 Hz.     

Effective optical path length investigation for cubic diffuse cavity as gas absorption cell

A simple cubic-shaped cavity with a high-diffuse-reflectivity inner coating as a novel gas detection cell was developed. The effective optical path length (EOPL) was evaluated by comparing the oxygen absorption signal in the cavity and in air based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The law for a spherical cavity was applied and modified to a cubic cavity as a function of reflectivity ρ, port fraction f, and the side length. Single-pass average path length of the cubic cavity was 0.723(7) times the side length. EOPL can be modified conveniently by adjusting the parameters of the cavity.     

Inline multi-harmonic calibration method for open-path atmospheric ammonia measurements

We demonstrate a real-time inline calibration method for an open-path ammonia sensor using a quantum cascade laser (QCL) at 9.06 μm. Ethylene (C₂H₄) has an absorption feature partially offset from the ammonia absorption feature, and the ethylene signal serves as a reference signal for ammonia concentration in real time. Spectroscopic parameters of ammonia and ethylene are measured and compared with the HITRAN database to ensure the accuracy of the calibration. Multiple harmonic wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) signals are used to separate the ambient ammonia and reference ethylene absorption signals. The ammonia signal is detected with the second harmonic (2f), while it is calibrated simultaneously with a high-harmonic (6–12f) signal of ethylene. The interference of ambient ammonia absorption on the ethylene reference signal is shown to be negligible when using ultra high-harmonics (≥6f). This in situ calibration method yields a field precision of 3 % and accuracy of 20 % for open-path atmospheric ammonia measurements.     

High-efficiency high-power QCW diode-side-pumped zigzag Nd:YAG ceramic slab laser

A high-efficiency high-power diode-side-pumped quasi-continuous wave (QCW) Nd:YAG ceramic slab laser using zigzag optical path was demonstrated. With an integrating sphere technique, the scattering and absorption coefficient of the ceramic slab were measured to be 0.0024 and 0.0016 cm^?1 at 1,064 nm, respectively. Under a pump power of 6.69 kW, an average output power of 2.44 kW at 1,064 nm with a repetition rate of 400 Hz was achieved, corresponding to an optical-to-optical efficiency of 36.5 %. As far as we know, this is the highest conversion efficiency reported for QCW side-pumped single slab Nd:YAG ceramic laser.     

腔增强吸收光谱技术中的腔镜反射率标定方法研究

腔增强吸收光谱技术具有实验装置相对简单、灵敏度高、环境适应性强等特点,是高灵敏吸收光谱技术的重要分支之一,在其应用过程中,腔镜反射率是影响其测量准确性的重要因素。利用2.0 μm可调谐二极管激光器作为光源搭建了一套腔增强吸收光谱测量系统,使用两片反射率为99.9%的高反镜作为腔镜,以CO₂气体在5 001.49 cm-1处的吸收谱线作为研究目标,对两种简单实用的腔镜反射率标定方法进行了对比研究。第一种标定方法利用已知程长多通池作为参考池,通过测量谐振腔和多通参考池的输出吸收信号,比较二者的吸收率推导出腔增强系统中的有效吸收路径,然后通过镜片反射率和有效吸收路径的关系对腔镜反射率进行标定;第二种标定方法根据理想气体状态方程得到气体分子数密度,并结合数据库中的谱线线强值,实现了对腔镜反射率进行标定。结果表明,方法一中积分腔与参考池测得信号的积分吸收面积之比为10.5,经过多次测量并计算得到积分腔的有效吸收路径与镜片的反射率分别为302.65 m和99.85%,得到大气中CO₂气体的浓度为0.037 3%,与实际大气CO₂的含量相符合,验证了此方法的准确性;该方法的优点是不受样品浓度影响,但因引入新的参考池,需要两池中气体的压强和温度都保持一致,此方法适用于开放式的腔体结构。方法二中测得大气中CO₂分子位于5 001.49 cm-1处吸收光谱,并结合大气中CO₂气体的分子数密度N为9.099×1015 molecule·cm-3,Hitran数据库中该条谱线线强为3.902×10-22 cm·molecule-1,计算得到镜片反射率约为99.84%;此方法优点是结构相较前一种方法更简单,但需要已知被测气体的分子数密度,因此在配置气体的过程中浓度、压力的误差会影响腔镜反射率的标定。由此可见两种镜片标定方法均可精确实现对腔镜反射率的标定,根据两种方法的特点,在实际应用中可选取相应适合的方法作为参考。     

空间外差光谱仪定标方法研究

空间外差光谱仪(SHS)是近年来迅速发展起来的新型超光谱分析技术,但针对该项技术的定标研究方法还不成熟。本文在分析空间外差仪原理的基础上,探讨了SHS实验室定标方法,内容包括光谱定标和辐射定标。利用可调谐激光器与元素光谱灯,根据光谱带宽内的发射谱线所对应的波长,以及探测器尺寸与系统带宽之间的关系,设计了光谱定标方案。定标结果显示仪器光谱分辨率和光谱范围与理论设计值一致,通过多次光谱稳定性测试,光谱漂移较小。在辐射定标中,利用积分球系统进行了稳定性定标,利用标准灯和漫反射板完成了响应度定标,并利用定标系数进行了实例验证。定标结果显示该方法能够满足空间外差光谱仪定标要求,为获取的光谱数据进行定量反演奠定了基础。     

Gas cells for tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy employing optical diffusers. Part 2: Integrating spheres

We have studied the effects of random laser speckle and self-mixing interference on TDLS based gas measurements made using integrating spheres. Details of the theory and TDLS apparatus are given in Part 1 of this paper and applied here to integrating spheres. Experiments have been performed using two commercial integrating spheres with diameters of 50 mm and 100 mm for the detection of methane at 1651 nm. We have calculated the expected levels of laser speckle related uncertainty, considered to be the fundamental limiting noise, and imaged subjective laser speckle in a sphere using different sized apertures. For wavelength modulation spectroscopy, noise equivalent absorbances (NEAs) of around 5×10^?5 were demonstrated in both cases, corresponding to limits of detection of 1.2 ppm methane and 0.4 ppm methane respectively. Longer-term drift was found to be at an NEA of 4×10^?4. This lies within our broad range of expectations. For a direct spectral scan with no wavelength dither, a limit of detection of 75 ppm or fractional measured power uncertainty of 3×10^?3 corresponded well with our prediction for the objective speckle uncertainty.     

积分球光源分布温度对宽波段光学遥感器绝对辐射定标的影响及其校正

实测了积分球输出光谱辐亮度分布曲线,并得到积分球光源的分布温度。从理论上分析了积分球光源分布温度影响宽波段光学遥感器绝对辐射定标精度的原因和机理,并仿真计算了包括积分球和太阳在内的几种不同分布温度光源定标某宽波段光学遥感器时得到的定标系数。仿真结果表明,不同分布温度间的定标系数最大差别大于2%。在此基础上提出了积分球光源分布温度影响绝对辐射定标系数的校正方法,为提高宽波段遥感器的辐射定标精度和遥感图像辐射校正提供了思路和依据。     

CW DFB RT diode laser-based sensor for trace-gas detection of ethane using a novel compact multipass gas absorption cell

The development of a continuous wave, thermoelectrically cooled (TEC), distributed feedback diode laser-based spectroscopic trace-gas sensor for ultra-sensitive and selective ethane (C₂H₆) concentration measurements is reported. The sensor platform used tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) and wavelength modulation spectroscopy as the detection technique. TDLAS was performed using an ultra-compact 57.6 m effective optical path length innovative spherical multipass cell capable of 459 passes between two mirrors separated by 12.5 cm and optimized for the 2.5–4 μm range TEC mercury–cadmium–telluride detector. For an interference-free C₂H₆ absorption line located at 2,976.8 cm^?1, a 1σ minimum detection limit of 740 pptv with a 1 s lock-in amplifier time constant was achieved.     

新型超分辨干涉型光谱仪光谱定标研究

针对综合光栅衍射与空间干涉与一体的新型空间外差光谱(SHS)技术开展了光谱定标技术研究。从SHS干涉机理入手,列举了SHS与传统超光谱仪器光谱定标的差异,开展了仪器线性函数、光谱分辨率和光谱范围等光谱特性数据的定标原理研究,设计可调谐激光积分球光谱定标法,并且针对超光谱数据特点探讨了谱峰定位等数据处理算法。利用上述光谱定标方法对CO2空间外差光谱仪样机开展了光谱定标实验,并利用镁元素灯进行了定标精度验证,结果表明该光谱定标方法能够满足SHS光谱定标要求,样机实测光谱定标数据与理论设计值吻合。     

低损耗薄膜背散仪吸光器的关键技术研究

激光高反射膜片的背散光大小直接影响激光陀螺的精度,低损耗薄膜背散仪是在全积分散射测试理论及立体角积分散射测量原理的基础上提出的一种测量高反射膜片背散光的新方法.在低损耗薄膜背散仪的设计中,吸光器的吸光装置结构及吸光材料的选择直接影响着测量精度.计算表明,在用波长λ=632.8nm、激光功率P=10mW的氦氖激光照射至与...     

CO concentration and temperature measurements in a shock tube for Martian mixtures by coupling OES and TDLAS

CO concentration and gas temperature distribution are diagnosed behind a strong shock wave simulating the Martian atmosphere entry processes by coupling optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS). The strong shock wave (6.31 ± 0.11 km/s) is established in a shock tube driven by combustion of hydrogen and oxygen. Temperature of the shock-heated gas is inferred through a precise analysis of the high temporal and spatial resolution experimental spectral of CN violet system (B ² Σ ⁺ →X ² Σ ⁺, Δv = 0 sequence) using OES. A CO absorption line near 2,335.778 nm is utilized for detecting the CO concentration using scanned-wavelength direct absorption mode with 50 kHz repetition rate. Combined with temperature results from OES, CO concentration in the thermal equilibrium region is derived. The current experimental results are complementary for determining an accurate rate coefficient of CO₂ dissociation and validation relevant chemical kinetics models in Mars atmosphere entry processes.     

基于微机电系统红外光源的长光程气体检测

针对红外气体传感器对光源的要求,选用了一种宽波长、高调制频率、低功耗的小体积微机电系统(micro-electro-mechanic system, MEMS)红外光源作为辐射源,其各项性能均能很好的满足红外传感系统对于光源的要求。由于其面光源的朗伯辐射特性,整形之后的红外光数值孔径仍然很大,采用传统的长光程气室结构很难实现长光程从而提高系统的检测灵敏度。本文结合双波长单光路的差分检测方法,设计了一种基于积分球特性的吸收气室,有效地解决了MEMS红外光源在高灵敏度气体检测应用中难于实现长光程的问题;并运用光在传输过程中光通量守恒的原理,推导了此积分球吸收气室的等效光程,解决了积分球气室等效光程计算的难题;同时采用FPGA主控芯片对MEMS红外光源进行高频调制并处理探测器的输出信号,使得外围电路的设计更加简单、灵活。设计中,使用直径为5 cm的积分球吸收气室便可实现166.7 cm的等效光程,研究结果显示系统可测得的最小甲烷浓度达0.001×10-6,极大地提高了红外检测系统的灵敏度。     

A trace methane gas sensor using mid-infrared quantum cascaded laser at 7.5 μm

Presented is a compact instrument developed for in situ high-stable and sensitive continuous measurement of trace gases in air, with results shown for ambient methane (CH₄) concentration. This instrument takes advantage of recent technology in thermoelectrically cooled pulsed Fabry–Perot (FP) quantum cascaded (QC) laser driving in a pulse mode operating at 7.5 μm to monitor a well-isolated spectral line near the ν4 fundamental band of CH₄. A high-quality liquid nitrogen cooled mercury cadmium telluride mid-infrared detector with time discriminating electronics is used along with a total reflection coated gold ellipsoid mirror offering 20 cm single pass optical absorption in an open-path cell to achieve stability of 5.2 × 10^?3 under experimental condition of 200 ppm measured ambient CH₄. The instrument operates continuously, and integrated software for laser control using direct absorption provides quantitative trace gas measurements without calibration. One may substitute a QC laser operating at a different wavelength to measure other gases. The instrument can be applied to field measurements of gases of environmental concern.     

Ultra-compact TDLAS humidity measurement cell with advanced signal processing

In this paper, tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy humidity measurements with an ultra-compact measurement cell are presented. The optical path length is 2 cm. The system uses a vertical cavity surface emitting laser at 1.854 μm. The main limiting factor of the humidity resolution is not the noise but interference fringes produced by reflecting surfaces. Next to the system setup, a novel rejection method to eliminate these fringes, based on Fourier domain analysis of the absorption line, is described. In contrast to other fringe rejection methods, the presented method is able to handle fringes, whose free spectral range is in the range of the half width of the absorption line. The achievable humidity resolution for the presented cell is below 0.25 % relative humidity at room temperature.     

An optical system for measuring nitric oxide using spectral separation techniques

An optical sensor based on differential absorption spectroscopy for real-time monitoring of industrial nitric oxide (NO) gas emission is described. The influence of gas absorption interference from sulfur dioxide (SO₂) in the environment was considered and a spectral separation technique was developed in order to eliminate this interference effect. The absorption spectrum of SO₂ around 226 nm was evaluated by the SO₂ concentration obtained using the experimentally recorded absorption spectrum around 300 nm. The absorption spectrum of NO around 226 nm was obtained by subtracting the absorption of SO₂ from the integral absorption spectrum of SO₂ and NO. The concentration measurements were performed at atmospheric pressure. The technique was found to have a lower detection limit of 0.8 ppm for NO per meter path length (SNR=2) and be immune from the influence from SO₂ on the NO measurement. The sensor based on this technique was successfully employed for in situ measurement of SO₂ and NO concentrations in the flue gas emitted from an industrial coal-fired boiler.     

Single-QCL-based absorption sensor for simultaneous trace-gas detection of CH4 and N2O

A quantum cascade laser (QCL)-based absorption sensor for the simultaneous dual-species monitoring of CH₄ and N₂O was developed using a novel compact multipass gas cell (MGC). This sensor uses a thermoelectrically cooled, continuous wave, distributed feedback QCL operating at ~7.8 µm. The QCL wavelength was scanned over two neighboring CH₄ (1275.04 cm^?1) and N₂O (1274.61 cm^?1) lines at a 1 Hz repetition rate. Wavelength modulation spectroscopy (f = 10 kHz) with second harmonic (2f) detection was performed to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. An ultra-compact MGC (16.9 cm long and a 225 ml sampling volume) was utilized to achieve an effective optical path length of 57.6 m. With such a sensor configuration, a detection limit of 5.9 ppb for CH₄ and 2.6 ppb for N₂O was achieved, respectively, at 1-s averaging time.     

Diffuse surface calibration method to improve accuracy and dynamic range of aerosol elastic light scattering measurements

A new method to calibrate detectors for elastic light scattering (ELS) measurement based on diffuse scattering from a Lambertian surface is presented. The method produces a calibration signal that is approximately seven orders of magnitude larger than a propane gas Rayleigh scattering calibration. The method also allows for calibration of detectors such as photodiodes, which are not sensitive enough to detect Rayleigh scattering for calibration but possess characteristics desirable for the measurement of soot ELS. Since the method is only suitable for backward scattering calibrations, transfer of calibration data from a backward- to a forward-oriented detector is accomplished with a secondary laser and integrating sphere. In demonstration experiments, calibration constants for photomultiplier tube (PMT) detectors obtained using both Rayleigh scattering and diffuse surface scattering agreed within experimental uncertainties as did measurements of in-flame scattering coefficients obtained with PMTs and photodiodes. However, achievable uncertainties with the diffuse-surface calibration approach were significantly reduced. More importantly, by enabling the use of photodiode detectors in ELS measurements, the new method facilitates operation at higher photon fluxes resulting in improved signal-to-noise ratios, reduced influence of photon shot noise, and the ability to achieve higher dynamic range in transient measurements.     

Design and Performances of a Carbon Monoxide Sensor Using Mid-Infrared Absorption Spectroscopy Technique at 4.6 µm

Based on infrared absorption spectroscopy technique, a carbon monoxide sensor was developed using the fundamental absorption band of carbon monoxide molecule at the wavelength around 4.6 µm. The developed sensor consists of pulse-modulated wideband incandescence, open ellipsoid light-collector gas-cell, dual-channel detector, and control and signal-processing module. With the prepared standard carbon monoxide gas sample, sensing characteristics on carbon monoxide were investigated using the sensor. Experimental results reveal that the limit of detection is about 10 ppm, the relative error at the limit of detection point is less than 14%, and that is less than 7.8% within the low concentration range of 20～180 ppm. The maximum absolute errors of 50 min long-term measurement on the 0 and 14 ppm CO gas samples are about 3 and 3.17 ppm, respectively, and the standard deviations are as small as 0.18 and 1.25 ppm, respectively. Compared with the reported carbon monoxide detection systems utilizing quantum cascaded lasers and distributed feedback lasers, the proposed sensor shows potential applications in carbon monoxide detection under the circumstances of coal-mine and environmental protection, by virtue of high performance, low cost, simple optical structure, and so on.