Analytical applications of laser moding caused by intracavity absorption

A continuous CO₂ laser with a reflecting mirror can operate at several wavelengths simultaneously. If an organic vapor is introduced into a separate cavity in the laser optical path, the laser will sometimes mode rapidly causing some lasing lines to diminish to zero and others to become enhanced; this has been observed even for very low amounts (10^-5 g) of organic gases. Laser intercavity absorption spectroscopy depends on overlap of a vibrational—rotational line of a sample with a laser transition line. The absorption by the sample greatly affects the laser wavetrain at that particular wavelength and interferes with the lasing action. The technique is not based on Beer's law, and the detection limits observed are orders of magnitude better than those of conventional infrared absorption spectroscopy. Two laser systems were used and various organic gases were studied. When a totally reflecting mirror which permitted free moding was used, the detection limits found were 0.14 μg, 0.95 μg and 0.60 μg for vinyl chloride, propylene, and ethylene, respectively. When a grating was used as the rear cavity optics restricting the wavelengths of the laser lines, the detection limits were 140 μg, 94 μg, 63 μg and 0.26 μg for vinyl chloride, propylene. ethylene and ethyl chloride, respectively.