title: Absorption spectroscopy with quantum cascade lasers.
abstract: Novel pulsed and cw quantum cascade distributed feedback (QC-DFB) lasers operating near lambda=8 micrometers were used for detection and quantification of trace gases in ambient air by means of sensitive absorption spectroscopy. N2O, 12CH4, 13CH4, and different isotopic species of H2O were detected. Also, a highly selective detection of ethanol vapor in air with a sensitivity of 125 parts per billion by volume (ppb) was demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Rice Quantum Institute, Rice University, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. akoster@rice.edu
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kosterev
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Curl
authors.forename: F K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Tittel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gmachl
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capasso
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sivco
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Baillargeon
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hutchinson
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D000431:Ethanol / Q000032:analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis; D007834:Lasers; D008697:Methane / Q000032:analysis; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D008697:Methane
keywords: NASA Discipline Life Sciences Technologies; Non-NASA Center