Cavity ringdown spectroscopic detection of nitric oxide with a continuous-wave quantum-cascade laser.
A spectroscopic gas sensor for nitric oxide (NO) detection based on a cavity ringdown technique was designed and evaluated. A cw quantum-cascade distributed-feedback laser operating at 5.2 mum was used as a tunable single-frequency light source. Both laser-frequency tuning and abrupt interruptions of the laser radiation were performed through manipulation of the laser current. A single ringdown event sensitivity to absorption of 2.2 x 10(-8) cm(-1) was achieved. Measurements of parts per billion (ppb) NO concentrations in N(2) with a 0.7-ppb standard error for a data collection time of 8 s have been performed. Future improvements are discussed that would allow quantification of NO in human breath.
Kosterev
A A
AA
Malinovsky
A L
AL
Tittel
F K
FK
Gmachl
C
C
Capasso
F
F
Sivco
D L
DL
Baillargeon
J N
JN
Hutchinson
A L
AL
Cho
A Y
AY