Gas phase photoacoustic spectroscopy in the long-wave IR using quartz tuning forks and amplitude modulated quantum cascade lasers

Michael D. Wojcik, Mark C. Phillips, Bret D. Cannon

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

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

We demonstrate the performance of a novel long-wave infrared photoacoustic laser absorbance spectrometer for gas-phase species using an amplitude modulated (AM) quantum cascade (QC) laser and a quartz tuning fork microphone. Photoacoustic signal was generated by focusing the output of a Fabry-Perot QC laser operating at 8.41 μm between the legs of a quartz tuning fork which served as a transducer for the transient acoustic pressure wave. The QC laser was modulated at the resonant frequency of the tuning fork (32.8 kHz). This sensor was calibrated using the infrared absorber Freon-134a by performing a simultaneous absorption measurement using a 35 cm absorption cell. The NEAS of this instrument was determined to be 2 × 10-8 W - cm -1 /√Hz, and the fundamental sensitivity of this technique is limited by the noise floor of the tuning fork itself.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationOptical Methods in the Life Sciences
Pages63860S
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
EventOptical Methods in the Life Sciences - Boston, MA, United States
Duration: Oct 1 2006Oct 3 2006

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume6386
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Conference

ConferenceOptical Methods in the Life Sciences
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBoston, MA
Period10/1/0610/3/06

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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