Recent advances of trace gas sensors based on diode and quantum cascade lasers

Abstract The potential of Quantum Cascade Laser technology has been recently harnessed in industry, medicine and military to create a range of original infrared gas sensors. These sensors have opened up many new applications due to compact size, excellent sensitivity, robust construction and low power requirements. They rely on infrared absorption spectroscopy to determine identity and quantity of gases. The measurement of these gases has relied on different technologies including multi-pass spectroscopy, photoacoustic spectroscopy, cavity ring down spectroscopy, and their various modifications. In this review paper some technologies are described in terms of its advantages/disadvantages in many application. The results of own works about methane, ammonia, nitric oxide, nitrous oxide, and carbonyl sulfide detection are presented as well

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Recent advances and future prospects of THz quantum cascade lasers

2007 Joint 32nd International Conference on Infrared and Millimeter Waves and the 15th International Conference on Terahertz Electronics ◽

10.1109/icimw.2007.4516384 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

A. Tredicucci

Keyword(s):

Quantum Cascade Lasers ◽

Future Prospects ◽

Quantum Cascade ◽

Recent Advances ◽

Cascade Lasers

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The SPIRIT airborne instrument: a three-channel infrared absorption spectrometer with quantum cascade lasers for in situ atmospheric trace-gas measurements

Applied Physics B ◽

10.1007/s00340-017-6820-x ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 123 (9) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Valéry Catoire ◽

Claude Robert ◽

Michel Chartier ◽

Patrick Jacquet ◽

Christophe Guimbaud ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infrared Absorption ◽

Quantum Cascade Lasers ◽

Trace Gas ◽

Quantum Cascade ◽

Gas Measurements ◽

Atmospheric Trace Gas ◽

Cascade Lasers ◽

Absorption Spectrometer

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Photoacoustic spectroscopy for trace gas detection with cryogenic and room-temperature continuous-wave quantum cascade lasers

Open Physics ◽

10.2478/s11534-009-0042-8 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Virginie Zeninari ◽

Agnès Grossel ◽

Lilian Joly ◽

Thomas Decarpenterie ◽

Bruno Grouiez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Detection Limit ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Quantum Cascade Lasers ◽

Gas Detection ◽

Trace Gas ◽

Atmospheric Gases ◽

Trace Gas Detection ◽

Quantum Cascade ◽

Cascade Lasers

AbstractThe main characteristics that a sensor must possess for trace gas detection and pollution monitoring are high sensitivity, high selectivity and the capability to perform in situ measurements. The photacoustic Helmholtz sensor developed in Reims, used in conjunction with powerful Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCLs), fulfils all these requirements. The best cell response is # 1200 V W−1 cm and the corresponding ultimate sensitivity is j 3.3 × 10−10 W cm−11 Hz−11/2. This efficient sensor is used with mid-infrared QCLs from Alpes Lasers to reach the strong fundamental absorption bands of some atmospheric gases. A first cryogenic QCL emitting at 7.9 μm demonstrates the detection of methane in air with a detection limit of 3 ppb. A detection limit of 20 ppb of NO in air is demonstrated using another cryogenic QCL emitting in the 5.4 μm region. Real in-situ measurements can be achieved only with room-temperature QCLs. A room-temperature QCL emitting in the 7.9 μm region demonstrates the simultaneous detection of methane and nitrous oxide in air (17 and 7 ppb detection limit, respectively). All these reliable measurements allow the estimated detection limit for various atmospheric gases using quantum cascade lasers to be obtained. Each gas absorbing in the infrared may be detected at a detection limit in the ppb or low-ppb range.

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