THz quantum cascade laser-based quartz enhanced photo-acoustic sensor

Year: 2013

Authors: Spagnolo V., Borri S., Patimisco P., Sampaolo A., Calabrese P.P., Beere H.E., Ritchie D.A., Vitiello M.S., Scamarcio G.

Autors Affiliation: Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica, Università e Politecnico di Bari, Via Amendola 173, Bari 70126, Italy; IFN-CNR, UOS Bari, via Amendola 173, Bari 70126, Italy; Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J. J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom; NEST, CNR – Istituto Nanoscienze and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San, Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy

Abstract: We report on the first demonstration of a quartz enhanced photo-acoustic (QEPAS) sensor in the Terahertz (THz) range. The sensor is based on a QCL emitting at 3.93 THz and a customized quartz tuning fork. For methanol detection we reached a normalized noise-equivalent absorption of 2×10-10 cm-1W/Hz1/2 comparable with the best result of mid-IR QEPAS.

Conference title:
Place:

More Information: Sponsors: Ministry of Science and Education of the state; of Rhineland Palatinate; OPTIMAS; Xiton Photonics GmbH; HUBNER
KeyWords: Laser-based; Methanol detections; Quantum cascades; Quartz tuning fork; Terahertz range, Quantum cascade lasers; Sensors; Terahertz waves, Quartz