Abstract
A continuous-wave, mid-infrared, distributed feedback, interband cascade laser was used to detect and quantify formaldehyde (H2CO) using off-axis, integrated cavity output spectroscopy in gas mixtures containing ≈1–25 parts in 106 by volume (ppmV) of H2CO. Analysis of the spectral measurements indicates that a H2CO concentration of 150 parts in 109 by volume (ppbV) would produce a spectrum with a signal to noise ratio of 3 for a data acquisition time of 3 s. This is a relevant sensitivity level for formaldehyde monitoring of indoor air, occupational settings, and on board spacecraft in long duration missions in particular as the detection sensitivity improves with the square root of the data acquisition time.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
B.P. Wert, M. Trainer, A. Fried, T.B. Ryerson, B. Henry, W. Potter, W.M. Angevine, E. Atlas, S.G. Donnelly, F.C. Fehsenfeld, G.J. Frost, P.D. Goldan, A. Hansel, J.S. Holloway, G. Hubler, W.C. Kuster, D.K. Nicks, J.A. Neuman, D.D. Parrish, S. Schauffler, J. Stutz, D.T. Sueper, C. Wiedinmyer, A. Wisthaler, J. Geophys. Res. 108, ACH8/1 (2003)
OSHA Standards – 29 CFR 1910.1048 (2006)
R.E. Crossgrove, Spacecraft Maximum Allowible Concentrations for Selected Airborne Contaminants (National Academy of Sciences, 1994–2000), Vol. 1–4
J.R. Hopkins, T. Still, S. Al-Haider, I.R. Fisher, A.C. Lewis, P.W. Seakins, Atmos. Environ. 37, 2557 (2003)
Y. Suzuki, N. Nakano, K. Suzuki, Environ. Sci. Technol. 37, 5695 (2003)
D. Richter, P. Weibring, Appl. Phys. B 82, 479 (2006)
P. Weibring, D. Richter, A. Fried, J.G. Walega, C. Dyroff, Appl. Phys. B (2006), unpublished, DOI: 10.1007/s00340-006-2300-4
D.G. Lancaster, A. Fried, B. Wert, B. Henry, F.K. Tittel, J. Appl. Opt. 39, 4436 (2000)
H. Dahnke, G. von Basum, K. Kleinermanns, P. Hering, M. Mürtz, Appl. Phys. B 75, 311 (2002)
F. Müller, A. Popp, F. Kühnemann, S. Schiller, Opt. Express 11, 2820 (2003)
M.M.J.W. van Herpen, S.E. Bisson, A.K.Y. Ngai, F.J.M. Harren, Appl. Phys. B 78, 281 (2004)
P. Wert, A. Fried, S. Rauenbuehler, J. Walega, B. Henry, J. Geophys. Res. 108, ACH1/1 (2003)
R.Q. Yang, C.J. Hill, B.H. Yang, Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 151109 (2005)
R.Q. Yang, C.J. Hill, Y. Qiu, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 891, 0891-EE01-06 (2006)
R.Q. Yang, C.J. Hill, B.H. Yang, C.M. Wong, R.E. Muller, P.M. Echternach, Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 3699 (2004)
D. Romanini, Ann. Phys. (Paris) 20, 665 (1995)
D. Romanini, A.A. Kachanov, N. Sadeghi, F. Stoeckel, Chem. Phys. Lett. 264, 316 (1997)
B.A. Paldus, J.S. Harris Jr., J. Martin, J. Xie, R.N. Zare, J. Appl. Phys. 82, 3199 (1997)
J.H. Miller, A. R Awtry, M. E Moses, A.D. Jewell, E.L. Wilson, Proc. Combust. Inst. 29, 2203 (2002)
A. O’Keefe, J.J. Scherer, J.B. Paul, Chem. Phys. Lett. 307, 343 (1999)
Y.A. Bakhirkin, A.A. Kosterev, C. Roller, R.F. Curl, F.K. Tittel, Appl. Opt. 43, 2257 (2004)
J.B. Paul, L. Lapson, J.G. Anderson, Appl. Opt. 40, 4904 (2001)
Y.A. Bakhirkin, A.A. Kosterev, R. Curl, F.K. Tittel, D.A. Yarekha, L. Hvozdara, M. Giovannini, J. Faist, Appl. Phys. B 82, 149 (2006)
M. Horstjann, Y.A. Bakhirkin, A.A. Kosterev, R.F. Curl, F.K. Tittel, C.M. Wong, C.J. Hill, R.Q. Yang, Appl. Phys. B 79, 799 (2004)
L.S. Rothman, A. Barbe, D. Chris Benner, L.R. Brown, C. Camy-Peyret, M.R. Carleer, K. Chance, C. Clerbaux, V. Dana, V.M. Devi, A. Fayt, J.M. Flaud, R.R. Gamache, A. Goldman, D. Jacquemart, K.W. Jucks, W.J. Lafferty, J.Y. Mandin, S.T. Massie, V. Nemtchinov, D. A Newnham, A. Perrin, C.P. Rinsland, J. Schroeder, K.M. Smith, M.A.H. Smith, K. Tang, R.A. Toth, J. Vander Auwera, P. Varanasi, K. Yoshino, J. Quantum Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf. 82, 5 (2003)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
PACS
07.07.Df; 82.80.Ch
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Miller, J., Bakhirkin, Y., Ajtai, T. et al. Detection of formaldehyde using off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy with an interband cascade laser. Appl. Phys. B 85, 391–396 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-006-2310-2
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-006-2310-2