Simultaneous detection of atmospheric nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide using a quantum cascade laser

Amir Khan; Kang Sun; David J. Miller; Mark A. Zondlo

doi:10.1117/12.884275

16 May 2011 Simultaneous detection of atmospheric nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide using a quantum cascade laser

Amir Khan, Kang Sun, David J. Miller, Mark A. Zondlo

Proceedings Volume 8029, Sensing Technologies for Global Health, Military Medicine, Disaster Response, and Environmental Monitoring; and Biometric Technology for Human Identification VIII; 80291H (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884275
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

We describe a non-intrusive, open-path, fast-response compact sensor for simultaneous measurements of nitrous-oxide (N₂O) and carbon-monoxide (CO) primarily designed for UAV applications. N₂O is the third most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas, but the spatial and temporal distributions of N₂O emissions are poorly quantified. On the other hand, CO is an important tracer to distinguish between fossil fuel and biogenic sources. We use a 4.5 micron thermoelectrically-cooled, distributed feedback, continuous wave quantum cascade laser as a mid-infrared radiation source to scan CO and N₂O transitions centered at 4538.9 nm and 4539.8 nm respectively. Detection was achieved by a thermo-electrically (TE) cooled 5 micron Indium-Phosphide (InSb) infrared detector. For the first time in this application, a compact cylindrical cell with a pattern configuration to minimize the sensor size with a pathlength of 10 meters (2.54 cm radius mirrors, 25 cm basepath). Wavelength modulation spectroscopy was employed to achieve high sensitivity detection. The detection limit of 10^-5 fractional absorbance was achieved at a 10 sec. averaging time. This is equivalent to less than 1 ppbv of N₂O and 2 ppbv of CO out of 320 ppbv and 200 ppbv ambient levels respectively. In summary we report a cryogen-free, consumable-free sensor that can operate with 10s W of electrical power and packaged in a small shoe-box size which is ideal for UAV or airborne applications.

Citation Download Citation

Amir Khan, Kang Sun, David J. Miller, and Mark A. Zondlo "Simultaneous detection of atmospheric nitrous oxide and carbon monoxide using a quantum cascade laser", Proc. SPIE 8029, Sensing Technologies for Global Health, Military Medicine, Disaster Response, and Environmental Monitoring; and Biometric Technology for Human Identification VIII, 80291H (16 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.884275

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