A Compact Raman and Fluorescence Detector for Rapid Detection of Chemical Leaks

Chemical leaks from Chemical Oxygen Iodine Lasers (COIL) in aircraft release toxic gases that can endanger the flight crew. We propose to develop an optical sensor to detect four toxic gases used in COIL systems: iodine, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, and ammonia. In addition, the proposed sensor will monitor oxygen levels in the aircraft. The proposed sensor will apply a combination of Laser-Induced Fluorescence and Raman to detect the gases at concentrations well below their Permissible Exposure Levels (PEL), and trigger an alarm when the concentrations exceed the PEL. The innovation of the proposed sensor is to use a single laser source for all of the gases, facilitating the development of a rugged, compact system that can be deployed in an airplane. The proposed sensor will have distinct advantages over conventional sensors that rely on chemical reactions between the target gases and a sensitive element. It will operate even when exposed to high concentrations of hazardous chemicals, it will not be harmed by decompression, and its warm-up time will be shorter than existing gas sensors. The Phase I work plan consists of defining the measurement requirements, estimating signal levels, constructing a proof-of-concept breadboard, performing laboratory experiments, and establishing a calibration procedure.