Fundamentals of spectral detection

Year: 2014

Authors: Werle P.

Autors Affiliation: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research IMK-IFU, Kreuzeckbahnstr. 19, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Abstract: Over the last decades laser spectroscopy has gained increasing attention for optical sensing applications, and many instruments for field measurements are based on spectral detection. In this chapter the fundamentals of absorption spectroscopy for gas sensing applications will be discussed. The focus is set on issues related to selectivity, sensitivity and stability: selectivity is important when the signal from the target gas might be affected by background contribution. Sensitivity becomes an issue for weak signals and limited averaging time. In this context, the two-sample variance is introduced as a practical method to characterize system stability and performance.

Journal/Review: JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS

KeyWords: Absorption spectroscopy; Laser spectroscopy, Detection limits; Drift; Field measurement; Gas sensing applications; Many instruments; Optical fringes; Practical method; Spectral detection, System stability
DOI: 10.1533/9780857098733.1.67