Mid-infrared fiber-coupled QCL-QEPAS sensor

Year: 2013

Authors: Spagnolo V., Patimisco P., Borri S., Scamarcio G., Bernacki B. E., Kriesel J.

Autors Affiliation: University of Bari, Dipartimento Interateneo, Bari, Italy; Politecn Bari, CNR IFN UOS BARI, Bari, Italy; P Pacific Northwest Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352 USA; Optoknowledge Syst Inc, Torrance, CA USA

Abstract: An innovative spectroscopic system based on an external cavity quantum cascade laser (EC-QCL) coupled with a mid-infrared (mid-IR) fiber and quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) is described. SF6 has been selected as a target gas in demonstration of the system for trace gas sensing. Single mode laser delivery through the prongs of the quartz tuning fork has been obtained employing a hollow waveguide fiber with inner silver-silver iodine (Ag-AgI) coatings and internal core diameter of 300 mu m. A detailed design and realization of the QCL fiber coupling and output collimator system allowed almost practically all (99.4 %) of the laser beam to be transmitted through the spectrophone module. The achieved sensitivity of the system is 50 parts per trillion in 1 s, corresponding to a record for QEPAS normalized noise-equivalent absorption of 2.7 x 10(-10) W cm(-1) Hz(-1/2).

Journal/Review: APPLIED PHYSICS B-LASERS AND OPTICS

Volume: 112 (1)      Pages from: 25  to: 33

More Information: The authors acknowledge financial support from the Italian research projects: PON01_02238 and PON02_00675.
KeyWords: Hollow waveguides; Mid infrared (mid IR); Parts per trillion; Quartz tuning fork; Quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopies; Single-mode lasers; Spectroscopic systems; Trace-gas sensing, Infrared devices; Photoacoustic spectroscopy; Quantum cascade lasers; Quartz; Silver, Fibers
DOI: 10.1007/s00340-013-5388-3

Citations: 66
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