Photoacoustic Spectroscopy Combined with a Multipass Circular Cell to Detect Low Concentrations of Ammonia

Abstract

Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) has become a valuable technique for trace gas detection due to its high sensitivity and potential for miniaturization. This study presents the development and evaluation of a near-infrared PAS system using a 1532 nm semiconductor laser and a multipass cell (MPC) designed to enhance the optical path and thereby improve the detection of ammonia (NH3). The minimum detection limit was determined to be 770 ppb, with a normalized noise equivalent absorption (NNEA) coefficient of 1.07 × 10−8 W cm−1 Hz−1/2. While competitive with similar PAS systems, these results indicate that mid-infrared technologies still offer superior detection thresholds. The findings suggest that while this near-infrared setup may not yet match the sensitivity of systems using quantum cascade lasers or QEPAS, it offers notable advantages in terms of simplicity, cost, and potential for field deployment. The system’s configuration makes it a viable and efficient tool for industrial gas monitoring and real-time environmental applications, with future improvements likely to come from transitioning to the mid-infrared region and advancing laser stabilization and miniaturization techniques.