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Isotopic analysis based on terahertz spectrum

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Abstract

As a new promising detection technology in the terahertz research field, the terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) has very broad application potential in many fields because its advantage on the characteristic spectrum, wide spectrum and non-destructive analysis of interested substances. In this paper, the terahertz absorption spectra of gases mixed with 12CO and 13CO in the spectrum range of 0.5–2.5 THz are measured by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy for the first time. Several isotopologues can be clearly distinguished based on the difference in their rotational energies and the consequent terahertz spectrum. The experimental results show that 12CO and 13CO have obvious characteristic absorption peaks in the spectrum range of 0.5–2.5 THz due to the difference in rotational energy, and the rotational constant B can be calculated according to the experimental values to distinguish the two gaseous isotopologues. The frequency positions of the characteristic absorption peak measured by this experiment and the rotation constant B calculated according to the experimental values are compared with those previous theoretical calculations and experimental results, and they are in good agreement. This result lays a foundation for developing more sophisticated terahertz instruments to the detection of different isotopologues.

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Acknowledgements

This paper is supported by Chinese NSF project (42130114), the strategic priority research program (B) of CAS (XDB41000000) and the pre-research Project on Civil Aerospace Technologies No. D020202 funded by Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Planetary Science, College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Qijun Chen & Yun Liu

  2. State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China

    Yun Liu

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  1. Qijun Chen
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Correspondence to Yun Liu.

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The authors whose names are listed above certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript. On behalf of all authors, the corresponding authors state that there is no conflict of interest. Yun Liu is Depyty Editor-in-Chief of Acta Geochimica. He was not involved in the journal’s review of, or decisions related to, this manuscript. The authors have no other competing interests to disclose.

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Chen, Q., Liu, Y. Isotopic analysis based on terahertz spectrum. Acta Geochim 42, 859–869 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-023-00622-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-023-00622-w

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