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Formaldehyde sensor using interband cascade laser based quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy

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Abstract

A novel continuous-wave mid-infrared distributed feedback interband cascade laser was utilized to detect and quantify formaldehyde (H2CO) using quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy. The laser was operated at liquid-nitrogen temperatures and provided single-mode output powers of up to 12 mW at 3.53 μm (2832.5 cm-1). The noise equivalent (1σ) detection sensitivity of the sensor was measured to be 2.2×10-8 cm-1 W (Hz)-1/2 for H2CO in ambient air, which corresponds to a detection limit of 0.6 parts in 106 by volume (ppmv) for a 10 s sensor time constant and 3.4 mW laser power delivered to the sensor module.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77251-1892, USA

    M. Horstjann, Y.A. Bakhirkin, A.A. Kosterev, R.F. Curl & F.K. Tittel

  2. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA, 91109, USA

    C.M. Wong, C.J. Hill & R.Q. Yang

Authors
  1. M. Horstjann
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  2. Y.A. Bakhirkin
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  3. A.A. Kosterev
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  4. R.F. Curl
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  5. F.K. Tittel
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  6. C.M. Wong
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  7. C.J. Hill
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  8. R.Q. Yang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F.K. Tittel.

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PACS

42.62.Fi; 72.50.+b

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Horstjann, M., Bakhirkin, Y., Kosterev, A. et al. Formaldehyde sensor using interband cascade laser based quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy. Appl Phys B 79, 799–803 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-004-1659-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-004-1659-3

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