Application of rapidly swept external cavity quantum cascade lasers for open-path and standoff chemical sensing

Brian E. Brumfield, Mark C. Phillips

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rapidly-swept external-cavity quantum cascade lasers (swept-ECQCLs) provide the broad IR spectral coverage and high spectral brightness required for sensitive multi-chemical standoff detection. The laser source characteristics of swept-ECQCLs can be applied to a variety of standoff applications where gas-phase chemical species concentrations are changing rapidly in time. Some of these applications include standoff measurements in turbulent or chemically reactive plumes, monitoring of industrial emissions from stacks, and real-Time monitoring of combustion processes. We have demonstrated and characterized a swept-ECQCL design that is capable of broadband spectral acquisition (∼100 cm-1) at a 5 ms acquisition rate with a high spectral resolution (<0.2 cm-1). Laser systems based on this swept-ECQCL design have been applied to open-path and standoff measurements in turbulent and reactive chemical plumes of time-varying chemical and isotopic composition. Chemical plume studies have demonstrated the capability of this technology for open-path and standoff chemical sensing applications. In this talk we will present our current progress on the development and application of swept-ECQCL technology for sensitive and rapid multi-chemical open-path measurements in MeOD/MeOH plumes with time-varying isotopic composition at a 40 Hz rate. Preliminary results will also be provided for a 5 m standoff detection of hot CO and CO2 in a turbulent flame using a rapidly-swept mode-hop free (MHF) ECQCL design that is capable of collecting 1-2 cm-1 MHF spectral windows at an acquisition rate of 1 kHz with a spectral resolution of ∼0.001 cm-1.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationMicro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications X
EditorsM. Saif Islam, Thomas George, Achyut K. Dutta
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510617896
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes
Event2018 Micro- and Nanotechnology (MNT) Sensors, Systems, and Applications X Conference - Orlando, United States
Duration: Apr 15 2018Apr 19 2018

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume10639
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Other

Other2018 Micro- and Nanotechnology (MNT) Sensors, Systems, and Applications X Conference
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityOrlando
Period4/15/184/19/18

Keywords

  • Gas sensing
  • Infrared spectroscopy
  • Quantum cascade laser
  • Standoff detection
  • Tunable laser

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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