NOVEL ULTRA-NARROW BANDWIDTH FILTERS FOR IMPROVED CONTINUOUS EMISSIONS MONITORING

Gaea Technologies propose to develop a novel, in situ cross stack monitor forimproved detection of criterion gases. The system is based on the use ofrecently developed ultra-narrow bandwidth solid-state filters for improvedspectral resolution, and reduction of spectral interferences and errors due tovariable aerosol extinction. These unique filters can be fabricated withbandwidths as narrow as 4 GHz, and can be designed for multi-wavelengthoperation. They provide the equivalent spectal resolution at selectedwavelengths of a state-of-the-art FTIR system, in a crystal only a fewmillimeters on a side. Currently the accessible operating region is limited towavelengths shorter then 5.0 microns. The system will also incorporate newlydeveloped noise canceling receivers for enhanced sensitivity. The technique issuitable for use in extractive monitoring systems, and with multi-pass sampling.Specifically, in Phase I they will fabricate and characterize a prototype systemfor detection of CO using overtone transitions near 1550 nm. They will compareand contract their results with alternative methods of continuous emissionsmonitoring, with particular emphasis on detection sensitivity, signal-to-noiseratios, sources of error, and sensitivity to spectral interferences. In PhaseII, they will extend the work to detection of multiple species in the mid-IR.