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Broadly tunable mid-infrared VECSEL for multiple components hydrocarbon gas sensing

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Abstract

A new sensing platform to simultaneously identify and quantify volatile C1 to C4 alkanes in multi-component gas mixtures is presented. This setup is based on an optically pumped, broadly tunable mid-infrared vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) developed for gas detection. The lead-chalcogenide VECSEL is the key component of the presented optical sensor. The potential of the proposed sensing setup is illustrated by experimental absorption spectra obtained from various mixtures of volatile hydrocarbons and water vapor. The sensor has a sub-ppm limit of detection for each targeted alkane in a hydrocarbon gas mixture even in the presence of a high water vapor content.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support by KTI/CTI from the Swiss government is greatfully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laser Spectroscopy and Sensing Laboratory, Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zurich, Otto-Stern-Weg 1, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland

    J. M. Rey, M. Fill & M. W. Sigrist

  2. Institute of Applied Mathematics and Physics, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Technikumsstrasse 9, 8401, Winterthur, Switzerland

    J. M. Rey

  3. Camlin Technologies Switzerland, Technoparkstrasse 1, 8005, Zurich, Switzerland

    M. Fill & F. Felder

Authors
  1. J. M. Rey
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  2. M. Fill
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  3. F. Felder
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  4. M. W. Sigrist
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Correspondence to M. W. Sigrist.

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Rey, J.M., Fill, M., Felder, F. et al. Broadly tunable mid-infrared VECSEL for multiple components hydrocarbon gas sensing. Appl. Phys. B 117, 935–939 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-014-5911-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-014-5911-1

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