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Ultra-Sensitive,
Compact Mid-Infrared Spectrometer for Airborne and Ground-Based
Atmospheric Monitoring—NovaWave Technologies,
Inc., 230A
Dr. Joshua B.
Dr. James J.
Scherer, Business Official, jjscherer@novawavetech.com
DOE Grant No.
DE-FG02-04ER84027
Amount: $749,991
Recent advances in both mid-infrared laser sources and
ultra-sensitive optical detection technologies offer the promise of studying
trace atmospheric species such as formaldehyde with unprecedented detail and
accuracy. The development of
corresponding instrumentation, suitable for both airborne and ground-based
monitoring applications, would have a wide ranging impact on our understanding
of atmospheric chemistry and dynamics.
This project addresses this need by combining a novel tunable
single-frequency, mid-infrared laser source with cavity ringdown
spectroscopy. The combination will allow
many important atmospheric constituents (including formaldehyde, CO, ethylene,
acetylene, and N2O) to be monitored with unprecedented sensitivity
(less than 25 pptv mixing ratio) in real time (less than 30 seconds). In Phase I, a single-frequency infrared laser source, operating in
the 2.65 micron spectral region, was constructed and fully characterized. The source produced up to 3 mW and 30
microwatts with and without a fiber amplifier, respectively. The source was combined with cavity enhanced
spectroscopy to demonstrate the sensitive detection of water vapor
isotopes. Phase II will significantly refine
the infrared laser source as well as the overall apparatus. The apparatus will be integrated into an
instrument capable of performing long-term, unattended field measurements of a
variety of atmospheric trace species.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The instrument should have a wide ranging impact on our understanding of atmospheric chemistry and dynamics. Commercial applications for the technology include trace gas monitoring, pollution monitoring, and industrial process monitoring.