Compact and Rugged Mid-Infrared Multi-Gas Open Path Sensor

We propose a turn-key in-situ gas sensor that can reliably perform continuous measurements on airborne, ship-based, or other mobile platforms. Specifically, we emphasize that the proposed system is compact, lightweight, power efficient, and therefore can be mounted on small to mid-sized uncrewed aircraft systems. The sensor features an exposed beam path that allows ambient air circulation without active gas sampling. The proposed sensor is based on mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy using Pendarrsquo;s proprietary distributed feedback quantum cascade laser array (QCLA) technology. Our monolithically integrated chip-scale coherent source can withstand harsh operating conditions while offering superior wavelength and intensity stability compared to other broadband mid-infrared sources. Broadband spectral coverage (up to 500 cm-1) combined with high frequency resolution (~100 MHz) enable a multi-tasking sensor capable of detecting a multitude of gases including toxic industrial chemicals, chemical warfare agents, greenhouse gases, and volatile organic compounds. The laser source can rapidly tune over a large bandwidth to provide fast spectral measurements, enabling gt;100 Hz time response.