CW DFB-QCL and EC-QCL based sensor for simultaneous NO and NO2 measurements via frequency modulation multiplexing using multi-pass absorption spectroscopy

Yajun Yu; Nancy P. Sanchez; Minhan Lou; Chuantao Zheng; Hongpeng Wu; Aleksander K. Głuszek; Arkadiusz J. Hudzikowski; Robert J. Griffin; Frank K. Tittel

doi:10.1117/12.2251228

27 January 2017 CW DFB-QCL- and EC-QCL-based sensor for simultaneous NO and NO₂ measurements via frequency modulation multiplexing using multi-pass absorption spectroscopy

Yajun Yu, Nancy P. Sanchez, Minhan Lou, Chuantao Zheng, Hongpeng Wu, Aleksander K. Głuszek, Arkadiusz J. Hudzikowski, Robert J. Griffin, Frank K. Tittel

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10111, Quantum Sensing and Nano Electronics and Photonics XIV; 1011108 (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2251228
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2017, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

Nitrogen oxides (NO_x), including nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) play important roles in determining the photochemistry of the ambient atmosphere, controlling the production of tropospheric ozone, affecting the concentration levels of the hydroxyl radical, and forming acid precipitation. A sensor system capable of simultaneous measurements of NO and NO₂ by using a commercial 76 m astigmatic multi-pass gas cell (MPGC) was developed in order to enable fastresponse NOx detection. A continuous wave (CW), distributed-feedback (DFB) quantum cascade laser (QCL) and a CW external-cavity (EC) QCL were employed for targeting a NO absorption doublet at 1900.075 cm^-1 and a NO₂ absorption line at 1630.33 cm^-1, respectively. Both laser beams were combined and transmitted through the MPGC in an identical optical path and subsequently detected by a single mid-infrared detector. A frequency modulation multiplexing scheme was implemented by modulating the DFB-QCL and EC-QCL at different frequencies and demodulating the detector signal with two Labview software based lock-in amplifiers to extract the corresponding second-harmonic (2f) components. Continuous monitoring of NO and NO2 concentration levels was achieved by locking the laser frequencies to the selected absorption lines utilizing a reference cell filled with high concentrations of NO and NO₂. The experimental results indicate minor performance degradation associated with frequency modulation multiplexing and no cross talk between the two multiplexed detection channels. The performance of the reported sensor system was evaluated for real time, sensitive and precise detection of NO and NO₂ simultaneously.

Conference Presentation

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Yajun Yu, Nancy P. Sanchez, Minhan Lou, Chuantao Zheng, Hongpeng Wu, Aleksander K. Głuszek, Arkadiusz J. Hudzikowski, Robert J. Griffin, and Frank K. Tittel "CW DFB-QCL- and EC-QCL-based sensor for simultaneous NO and NO₂ measurements via frequency modulation multiplexing using multi-pass absorption spectroscopy", Proc. SPIE 10111, Quantum Sensing and Nano Electronics and Photonics XIV, 1011108 (27 January 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2251228

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