Advanced Analyzers for Monitoring Submarine Atmosphere

Atmospheric monitoring on U.S. Navy submarines has been primarily based on mass spectrometry. However, the high cost of repair and the lack of field serviceability are drawbacks to this technique. Vescent Photonics proposes to design a dual comb spectrometer in the mid-infrared (3-12 m) wavelength region as an alternative atmospheric monitoring system. Dual comb spectroscopy can achieve high signal to noise in short acquisition times over a wide optical spectrum, enabling simultaneous concentration measurements of multiple gas species in submarine atmospheres. Vescent will refine its near-infrared (1-2 m) frequency comb technology for use at mid-infrared wavelengths, allowing highly sensitive detection of molecular spectral fingerprints for identification of gas constituents and the measurement of their concentrations. Vescents optical frequency comb technology is based on high reliability fiber optic components from the telecommunications industry, reducing the frequency and cost of maintenance of the proposed monitoring system.