Infrared QC laser applications to field measurements of atmospheric trace gas sources and sinks in environmental research: Enhanced capabilities using continuous wave QCLs

Mark S. Zahniser; David D. Nelson; J. Barry McManus; Scott C. Herndon; Ezra C. Wood; Joanne H. Shorter; Ben H. Lee; Gregory W. Santoni; Rodrigo Jiménez; Bruce C. Daube; Sunyoung Park; Eric A. Kort; Steven C. Wofsy

doi:10.1117/12.815172

Infrared QC laser applications to field measurements of atmospheric trace gas sources and sinks in environmental research: Enhanced capabilities using continuous wave QCLs

Mark S. Zahniser, David D. Nelson, J. Barry McManus, Scott C. Herndon, Ezra C. Wood, Joanne H. Shorter, Ben H. Lee, Gregory W. Santoni, Rodrigo Jiménez, Bruce C. Daube, Sunyoung Park, Eric A. Kort, Steven C. Wofsy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

The advent of continuous wave quantum cascade lasers operating at near room temperature has greatly expanded the capability of spectroscopic detection of atmospheric trace gases using infrared absorption at wavelengths from 4 to 12 μm. The high optical power, narrow line width, and high degree of single mode purity result in minimal fractional absorptions of 5×10^-6 Hz^-1/2 detectable in direct absorption with path lengths up to 210 meters. The Allan plot minima correspond to a fractional absorbance of 1×10^-6 or a minimum absorption per unit path length 5×10^-1/2 cm^-1 in 50s. This allows trace gas mixing ratio detection limits in the low part-per-trillion (1 ppt = 10^-12) range for many trace gases of atmospheric interest. We present ambient measurements of NO₂ with detection precision of 10 ppt Hz ^-1/2. The detection precision for the methane isotopologue ¹³CH₄ is 25 ppt Hz^-1/2 which allows direct measurements of ambient ratios of ¹³CH₄/ ¹²CH₄ with a precision of 0.5% in 100 s without pre-concentration. Projections are given for detection limits for other gases including COS, HONO and HCHO as CWRT lasers become available at appropriate wavelengths.

Original language	English
Article number	72220H
Journal	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	7222
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.815172
State	Published - 2009
Event	Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices VI - San Jose, CA, United States Duration: 25 Jan 2009 → 28 Jan 2009

Keywords

Atmospheric trace gases
Infrared absorption
Quantum cascade laser

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10.1117/12.815172

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Zahniser, M. S., Nelson, D. D., McManus, J. B., Herndon, S. C., Wood, E. C., Shorter, J. H., Lee, B. H., Santoni, G. W., Jiménez, R., Daube, B. C., Park, S., Kort, E. A., & Wofsy, S. C. (2009). Infrared QC laser applications to field measurements of atmospheric trace gas sources and sinks in environmental research: Enhanced capabilities using continuous wave QCLs. Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, 7222, Article 72220H. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.815172

@article{63756857111040b2b873961a94a008b6,

title = "Infrared QC laser applications to field measurements of atmospheric trace gas sources and sinks in environmental research: Enhanced capabilities using continuous wave QCLs",

abstract = "The advent of continuous wave quantum cascade lasers operating at near room temperature has greatly expanded the capability of spectroscopic detection of atmospheric trace gases using infrared absorption at wavelengths from 4 to 12 μm. The high optical power, narrow line width, and high degree of single mode purity result in minimal fractional absorptions of 5×10-6 Hz-1/2 detectable in direct absorption with path lengths up to 210 meters. The Allan plot minima correspond to a fractional absorbance of 1×10-6 or a minimum absorption per unit path length 5×10-1/2 cm-1 in 50s. This allows trace gas mixing ratio detection limits in the low part-per-trillion (1 ppt = 10-12) range for many trace gases of atmospheric interest. We present ambient measurements of NO2 with detection precision of 10 ppt Hz -1/2. The detection precision for the methane isotopologue 13CH4 is 25 ppt Hz-1/2 which allows direct measurements of ambient ratios of 13CH4/ 12CH4 with a precision of 0.5% in 100 s without pre-concentration. Projections are given for detection limits for other gases including COS, HONO and HCHO as CWRT lasers become available at appropriate wavelengths.",

keywords = "Atmospheric trace gases, Infrared absorption, Quantum cascade laser",

author = "Zahniser, {Mark S.} and Nelson, {David D.} and McManus, {J. Barry} and Herndon, {Scott C.} and Wood, {Ezra C.} and Shorter, {Joanne H.} and Lee, {Ben H.} and Santoni, {Gregory W.} and Rodrigo Jim{\'e}nez and Daube, {Bruce C.} and Sunyoung Park and Kort, {Eric A.} and Wofsy, {Steven C.}",

year = "2009",

doi = "10.1117/12.815172",

language = "English",

volume = "7222",

journal = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

issn = "0277-786X",

publisher = "SPIE",

note = "Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices VI ; Conference date: 25-01-2009 Through 28-01-2009",

}

Zahniser, MS, Nelson, DD, McManus, JB, Herndon, SC, Wood, EC, Shorter, JH, Lee, BH, Santoni, GW, Jiménez, R, Daube, BC, Park, S, Kort, EA & Wofsy, SC 2009, 'Infrared QC laser applications to field measurements of atmospheric trace gas sources and sinks in environmental research: Enhanced capabilities using continuous wave QCLs', Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 7222, 72220H. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.815172

Infrared QC laser applications to field measurements of atmospheric trace gas sources and sinks in environmental research: Enhanced capabilities using continuous wave QCLs. / Zahniser, Mark S.; Nelson, David D.; McManus, J. Barry et al.
In: Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol. 7222, 72220H, 2009.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Infrared QC laser applications to field measurements of atmospheric trace gas sources and sinks in environmental research

T2 - Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices VI

AU - Zahniser, Mark S.

AU - Nelson, David D.

AU - McManus, J. Barry

AU - Herndon, Scott C.

AU - Wood, Ezra C.

AU - Shorter, Joanne H.

AU - Lee, Ben H.

AU - Santoni, Gregory W.

AU - Jiménez, Rodrigo

AU - Daube, Bruce C.

AU - Park, Sunyoung

AU - Kort, Eric A.

AU - Wofsy, Steven C.

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - The advent of continuous wave quantum cascade lasers operating at near room temperature has greatly expanded the capability of spectroscopic detection of atmospheric trace gases using infrared absorption at wavelengths from 4 to 12 μm. The high optical power, narrow line width, and high degree of single mode purity result in minimal fractional absorptions of 5×10-6 Hz-1/2 detectable in direct absorption with path lengths up to 210 meters. The Allan plot minima correspond to a fractional absorbance of 1×10-6 or a minimum absorption per unit path length 5×10-1/2 cm-1 in 50s. This allows trace gas mixing ratio detection limits in the low part-per-trillion (1 ppt = 10-12) range for many trace gases of atmospheric interest. We present ambient measurements of NO2 with detection precision of 10 ppt Hz -1/2. The detection precision for the methane isotopologue 13CH4 is 25 ppt Hz-1/2 which allows direct measurements of ambient ratios of 13CH4/ 12CH4 with a precision of 0.5% in 100 s without pre-concentration. Projections are given for detection limits for other gases including COS, HONO and HCHO as CWRT lasers become available at appropriate wavelengths.

AB - The advent of continuous wave quantum cascade lasers operating at near room temperature has greatly expanded the capability of spectroscopic detection of atmospheric trace gases using infrared absorption at wavelengths from 4 to 12 μm. The high optical power, narrow line width, and high degree of single mode purity result in minimal fractional absorptions of 5×10-6 Hz-1/2 detectable in direct absorption with path lengths up to 210 meters. The Allan plot minima correspond to a fractional absorbance of 1×10-6 or a minimum absorption per unit path length 5×10-1/2 cm-1 in 50s. This allows trace gas mixing ratio detection limits in the low part-per-trillion (1 ppt = 10-12) range for many trace gases of atmospheric interest. We present ambient measurements of NO2 with detection precision of 10 ppt Hz -1/2. The detection precision for the methane isotopologue 13CH4 is 25 ppt Hz-1/2 which allows direct measurements of ambient ratios of 13CH4/ 12CH4 with a precision of 0.5% in 100 s without pre-concentration. Projections are given for detection limits for other gases including COS, HONO and HCHO as CWRT lasers become available at appropriate wavelengths.

KW - Atmospheric trace gases

KW - Infrared absorption

KW - Quantum cascade laser

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=62449196446&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1117/12.815172

DO - 10.1117/12.815172

M3 - Conference article

AN - SCOPUS:62449196446

SN - 0277-786X

VL - 7222

JO - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

JF - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

M1 - 72220H

Y2 - 25 January 2009 through 28 January 2009

ER -

Infrared QC laser applications to field measurements of atmospheric trace gas sources and sinks in environmental research: Enhanced capabilities using continuous wave QCLs

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