Methane sensing with a novel micromachined single-frequency Fabry-Perot laser diode emitting at 1331 nm

Author

Weldon, V. ; O´Gorman, James ; Perez-Camacho, J.J. ; McDonald, D. ; Hegarty, J. ; Corbett, B.

Author_Institution

Optronics, Trinity Coll., Dublin, Ireland

Volume

9

Issue

3

fYear

1997

fDate

3/1/1997 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

357

Lastpage

359

Abstract

Spectroscopic-based gas sensing is demonstrated using micromachined single-frequency Fabry-Perot (FP) laser diodes emitting at 1.331 μm with a side mode suppression ratio of greater than 24 dB over a significant emission wavelength tuning range. The utility of these novel mode controlled FP lasers for spectroscopic detection of gases is assessed by investigating the methane-absorption band in the 1.33 μm region. By probing the narrow linewidth R2 rotational absorption line, we demonstrate a low gas detection limit of 28 ppm/spl middot/m and confirm the suitability of micromachined lasers in such applications.

Keywords

gas sensors; infrared sources; laser frequency stability; laser modes; laser transitions; laser tuning; measurement by laser beam; micromachining; modulation spectroscopy; rotational states; semiconductor lasers; spectral line breadth; spectrochemical analysis; 1.33 mum; 1331 nm; emission wavelength tuning range; gas sensors; low gas detection limit; methane sensing; methane-absorption band; micromachined lasers; micromachined single-frequency Fabry-Perot laser diode; micromachined single-frequency Fabry-Perot laser diodes; narrow linewidth R2 rotational absorption line; side mode suppression ratio; spectroscopic detection; spectroscopic-based gas sensing; Absorption; Diode lasers; Fabry-Perot; Gas lasers; Gases; Laser applications; Laser modes; Laser tuning; Optical control; Spectroscopy;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/68.556072

Filename

556072