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 un-crewed aircraft systems. The sensor features a small (centimeter scale) 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. Absorption measurements in the mid-infrared fingerprinting region ensures that a small pathlength is sufficient to reach uncertainty levels of lt;1% even when operating on moving platforms. By the end of Phase I, we will have built a prototype sensor and experimentally demonstrated that the sensor can reach targeted sensitivities under simulated flight conditions.