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Impact of humidity on quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy based detection of HCN

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Abstract

The architecture and operation of a trace hydrogen cyanide (HCN) gas sensor based on quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy and using a λ=1.53 μm telecommunication diode laser are described. The influence of humidity content in the analyzed gas on the sensor performance is investigated. A kinetic model describing the vibrational to translational (V–T) energy transfer following the laser excitation of a HCN molecule is developed. Based on this model and the experimental data, the V–T relaxation time of HCN was found to be (1.91±0.07)10-3 s Torr in collisions with N2 molecules and (2.1±0.2)10-6 s Torr in collisions with H2O molecules. The noise-equivalent concentration of HCN in air at normal indoor conditions was determined to be at the 155-ppbv level with a 1-s sensor time constant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX, 77005, USA

    A.A. Kosterev, T.S. Mosely & F.K. Tittel

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  1. A.A. Kosterev
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  2. T.S. Mosely
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  3. F.K. Tittel
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Correspondence to A.A. Kosterev.

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PACS

82.80.Kq; 42.62.Fi

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Kosterev, A., Mosely, T. & Tittel, F. Impact of humidity on quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy based detection of HCN. Appl. Phys. B 85, 295–300 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-006-2355-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-006-2355-2

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