title: Ultrasensitive spectral trace detection of individual molecular components in an atmospheric binary mixture.
abstract: We present what is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of the application of the laser homodyne interferometric technique to the quantitative identification of individual trace molecular constituents of a binary mixture in an ambient atmospheric background. Operation of the laser interferometric detection system to within a factor of 26 of the theoretical quantum noise limit, without extensive vibrationisolation, is observed. We realize the spectral identification of SF(6) and CF(2)Cl(2) mixed in various trace concentrations, without significant cross interference, using molecular spectral features overlapping the 10P CO(2) laser transitions.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Weston
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sakthivel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mukherjee