Ultra-Sensitive, Compact Mid-Infrared Spectrometer for Airborne and Ground-Based Atmospheric Monitoring

75785-Recent advances in both mid-infrared laser sources and ultra-sensitive optical detection technologies offer the promise of studying trace atmospheric species such as formaldehyde with unprecedented detail and accuracy. The development of corresponding instrumentation, suitable for both airborne and ground-based monitoring applications, would have a wide ranging impact on our understanding of atmospheric chemistry and dynamics. This project addresses this need by combining a novel tunable single-frequency, mid-infrared laser source with cavity ringdown spectroscopy. The combination will allow many important atmospheric constituents (including formaldehyde, CO, ethylene, acetylene, and N2O) to be monitored with unprecedented sensitivity (less than 25 pptv mixing ratio) in real time (less than 30 seconds). In Phase I, a single-frequency infrared laser source, operating in the 2.65 ¿m spectral region, will be constructed and fully characterized. This source will be used in conjunction with cavity ringdown spectroscopy, and the ability to achieve the aforementioned sensitivity level to be assessed. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The instrument should have a wide ranging impact on our understanding of atmospheric chemistry and dynamics. Commercial applications for the technology include trace gas monitoring, pollution monitoring, and industrial process monitoring.