scholarly journals A Portable Quantum Cascade Laser Spectrometer for Atmospheric Measurements of Carbon Monoxide

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 2380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Viciani ◽  
Alessio Montori ◽  
Antonio Chiarugi ◽  
Francesco D’Amato
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Quantum Cascade Laser ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Laser Spectrometer ◽  
Atmospheric Measurements ◽  
Gas Concentration ◽  
Quantum Cascade ◽  
Measurement Campaigns

Trace gas concentration measurements in the stratosphere and troposphere are critically required as inputs to constrain climate models. For this purpose, measurement campaigns on stratospheric aircraft and balloons are being carried out all over the world, each one involving sensors which are tailored for the specific gas and environmental conditions. This paper describes an automated, portable, mid-infrared quantum cascade laser spectrometer, for in situ carbon monoxide mixing ratio measurements in the stratosphere and troposphere. The instrument was designed to be versatile, suitable for easy installation on different platforms and capable of operating completely unattended, without the presence of an operator, not only during one flight but for the whole period of a campaign. The spectrometer features a small size (80 × 25 × 41 cm3), light weight (23 kg) and low power consumption (85 W typical), without being pressurized and without the need of calibration on the ground or during in-flight operation. The device was tested in the laboratory and in-field during a research campaign carried out in Nepal in summer 2017, onboard the stratospheric aircraft M55 Geophysica. The instrument worked extremely well, without external maintenance during all flights, proving an in-flight sensitivity of 1–2 ppbV with a time resolution of 1 s.

scholarly journals Continuous and high-precision atmospheric concentration measurements of COS, CO<sub>2</sub>, CO and H<sub>2</sub>O using a quantum cascade laser spectrometer (QCLS)

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 5293-5314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda M. J. Kooijmans ◽  
Nelly A. M. Uitslag ◽  
Mark S. Zahniser ◽  
David D. Nelson ◽  
Stephen A. Montzka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Line ◽  
Absorption Line ◽  
High Precision ◽  
Quantum Cascade Laser ◽  
Gross Primary Production ◽  
Laser Spectrometer ◽  
Atmospheric Measurements ◽  
Atmospheric Concentration ◽  
Quantum Cascade

Abstract. Carbonyl sulfide (COS) has been suggested as a useful tracer for gross primary production as it is taken up by plants in a similar way as CO2. To explore and verify the application of this novel tracer, it is highly desired to develop the ability to perform continuous and high-precision in situ atmospheric measurements of COS and CO2. In this study we have tested a quantum cascade laser spectrometer (QCLS) for its suitability to obtain accurate and high-precision measurements of COS and CO2. The instrument is capable of simultaneously measuring COS, CO2, CO and H2O after including a weak CO absorption line in the extended wavelength range. An optimal background and calibration strategy was developed based on laboratory tests to ensure accurate field measurements. We have derived water vapor correction factors based on a set of laboratory experiments and found that for COS the interference associated with a water absorption line can dominate over the effect of dilution. This interference can be solved mathematically by fitting the COS spectral line separately from the H2O spectral line. Furthermore, we improved the temperature stability of the QCLS by isolating it in an enclosed box and actively cooling its electronics with the same thermoelectric chiller used to cool the laser. The QCLS was deployed at the Lutjewad atmospheric monitoring station (60 m; 6°21′ E, 53°24′ N; 1 m a.s.l.) in the Netherlands from July 2014 to April 2015. The QCLS measurements of independent working standards while deployed in the field showed a mean difference with the assigned cylinder value within 3.3 ppt COS, 0.05 ppm for CO2 and 1.7 ppb for CO over a period of 35 days. The different contributions to uncertainty in measurements of COS, CO2 and CO were summarized and the overall uncertainty was determined to be 7.5 ppt for COS, 0.23 ppm for CO2 and 3.3 ppb for CO for 1-minute data. A comparison of in situ QCLS measurements with those from concurrently filled flasks that were subsequently measured by the QCLS showed a difference of −9.7 ± 4.6 ppt for COS. Comparison of the QCLS with a cavity ring-down spectrometer showed a difference of 0.12 ± 0.77 ppm for CO2 and −0.9 ± 3.8 ppb for CO.

scholarly journals Continuous and high precision atmospheric concentration measurements of COS, CO<sub>2</sub>, CO and H<sub>2</sub>O using a quantum cascade laser spectrometer (QCLS)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda M. J. Kooijmans ◽  
Nelly A. M. Uitslag ◽  
Mark S. Zahniser ◽  
David D. Nelson ◽  
Stephen A. Montzka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Line ◽  
High Precision ◽  
Quantum Cascade Laser ◽  
Gross Primary Production ◽  
Temperature Stability ◽  
Laser Spectrometer ◽  
Atmospheric Measurements ◽  
Atmospheric Concentration ◽  
Quantum Cascade

Abstract. Carbonyl sulfide (COS) has been suggested as a useful tracer for Gross Primary Production as it is taken up by plants in a similar way as CO2. To explore and verify the application of this novel tracer, it is highly desired to develop the ability to perform continuous and high precision in situ atmospheric measurements of COS and CO2. In this study we have tested a quantum cascade laser spectrometer (QCLS) for its suitability to obtain accurate and high precision measurements of COS and CO2. The instrument is capable of simultaneously measuring COS, CO2, CO, and H2O after including a weak CO absorption line in the extended wavelength range. An optimal background and calibration strategy was developed based on laboratory tests to ensure accurate field measurements. We have derived water vapor correction factors based on a set of laboratory experiments, and found that line interference with H2O dominates over the dilution effect for COS. This interference can be solved mathematically by fitting the COS spectral line separately from the H2O spectral line. Furthermore, we improved the temperature stability of the QCLS by isolating it in an enclosed box and actively cooling its electronics with the same thermoelectric chiller used to cool the laser. The QCLS was deployed at the Lutjewad atmospheric monitoring station (60 m, 6°21'E, 53°24'N, 1 m a.s.l.) in the Netherlands from July 2014 to April 2015. The measurements of an independent calibration standard showed a mean difference with the assigned cylinder value within 3.3 ppt COS, 0.05 ppm for CO2 and 1.7 ppb for CO over a period of 35 days. The different contributions to uncertainty in measurements of COS, CO2 and CO were summarized and the overall uncertainty was determined to be 7.1 ppt for COS, 0.22 ppm for CO2 and 3.4 ppb for CO for one second data. The comparison of in situ QCLS measurements with measurements from flasks and a cavity ring-down spectrometer showed a difference of −3.5 ± 8.6 ppt for COS, 0.12 ± 0.77 ppm for CO2 and −0.9 ± 3.8 ppb for CO.

Applications of wavelet transform to quantum cascade laser spectrometer for atmospheric trace gas measurements

2012 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 951-963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingsong Li ◽  
Uwe Parchatka ◽  
Horst Fischer
Keyword(s):  
Wavelet Transform ◽  
Quantum Cascade Laser ◽  
Trace Gas ◽  
Laser Spectrometer ◽  
Quantum Cascade ◽  
Gas Measurements ◽  
Atmospheric Trace Gas

Quantum cascade laser absorption sensor for carbon monoxide in high-pressure gases using wavelength modulation spectroscopy

2014 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1938 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Spearrin ◽  
C. S. Goldenstein ◽  
J. B. Jeffries ◽  
R. K. Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
High Pressure ◽  
Quantum Cascade Laser ◽  
Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy ◽  
Wavelength Modulation ◽  
Modulation Spectroscopy ◽  
Quantum Cascade ◽  
Laser Absorption

scholarly journals Open-path, quantum cascade-laser-based sensor for high-resolution atmospheric ammonia measurements

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Miller ◽  
K. Sun ◽  
L. Tao ◽  
M. A. Khan ◽  
M. A. Zondlo
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Quantum Cascade Laser ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
Reduced Pressure ◽  
Total Uncertainty ◽  
Atmospheric Ammonia ◽  
Quantum Cascade ◽  
Open Path ◽  
Time Calibration

Abstract. We demonstrate a compact, open-path, quantum cascade-laser-based atmospheric ammonia sensor operating at 9.06 μm for high-sensitivity, high temporal resolution, ground-based measurements. Atmospheric ammonia (NH3) is a gas-phase precursor to fine particulate matter, with implications for air quality and climate change. Currently, NH3 sensing challenges have led to a lack of widespread in situ measurements. Our open-path sensor configuration minimizes sampling artifacts associated with NH3 surface adsorption onto inlet tubing and reduced pressure sampling cells, as well as condensed-phase partitioning ambiguities. Multi-harmonic wavelength modulation spectroscopy allows for selective and sensitive detection of atmospheric pressure-broadened absorption features. An in-line ethylene reference cell provides real-time calibration (±20% accuracy) and normalization for instrument drift under rapidly changing field conditions. The sensor has a sensitivity and noise-equivalent limit (1σ) of 0.15 ppbv NH3 at 10 Hz, a mass of ~ 5 kg and consumes ~ 50 W of electrical power. The total uncertainty in NH3 measurements is 0.20 ppbv NH3 ± 10%, based on a spectroscopic calibration method. Field performance of this open-path NH3 sensor is demonstrated, with 10 Hz time resolution and a large dynamic response for in situ NH3 measurements. This sensor provides the capabilities for improved in situ gas-phase NH3 sensing relevant for emission source characterization and flux measurements.

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

2017 ◽  
Vol 123 (9) ◽  
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

scholarly journals Quantum cascade laser-based sensors for the detection of exhaled carbon monoxide

2016 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahid Pakmanesh ◽  
Simona M. Cristescu ◽  
Atamalek Ghorbanzadeh ◽  
Frans J. M. Harren ◽  
Julien Mandon
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Quantum Cascade Laser ◽  
Quantum Cascade ◽  
Exhaled Carbon Monoxide
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document