Isotopic Carbon Dioxide Analyzer for Atmospheric Studies

Picarro has as part of its current product offering, a CRDS-based isotopic (13CO2/12Co2) carbon dioxide analyzer capable of measuring atmospheric levels of CO2 to a precision of 0.3% in a five-minute measurement.  This slow analyzer operated at 1.6¿m.  At this wavelength, we have pushed the very limits of what CRDS is capable of delivering for isotopic CO2.  The isotopic product proposed in this Phase I effort will operate at 2¿m.  At 2¿m the line strength is 20 times that of the spectral features available at 1.6¿m providing the reduced measurement time and increased isotopic ratio precision target in this proposal.  Although there are a number of technical challenges that need to be overcome, this additional line strength will enable Picarro to greatly improve the precision while still maintaining the drift, ease of use, and environmental insensitivity that exits in our current 1.6¿m product.