Cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy sensor

Abstract

The paper presents opportunities of cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy technique application in nitrogen oxides (NOx) detection. In this method the concentration of an absorbing gas is determined by measure of decay time of the light pulse trapped in an optical cavity. The measurements are not sensitive to fluctuation of both laser power and photodetector sensitivity. The cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy technique is a modification of cavity ring down spectroscopy technique where the off-axis adjustment of the resonator is used. NOx detection is carried out in the visible and infrared range. The signal is registered with a developed low noise photoreceiver. Features of the presented sensor show that it is possible to build a portable trace gases sensor. Its sensitivity could be comparable with chemical detectors. Such a system has several advantages: relatively low price, small size and weight, and detection possibility of other gases.