Quartz Enhanced Photothermal Spectroscopy (QEPTS) is a technique, which enables developing gas sensors characterized by a broadband operational range and superb sensitivity. QEPTS relies on the thermoelastic effect induced by the illumination of the Quartz Tunning Fork (QTF) with a modulated laser radiation, which generates a piezoelectric signal. QTF excitation can occur at any wavelength, which is impossible to observe in e.g. semiconductor detectors. The sub-dollar cost of a QTF delivers simultaneously broadband and sensitive detection capability and significantly reduced costs of the sensor. Furthermore, as in majority of laser-based sensors, the sensitivity of QEPTS-based systems can be easily enhanced by increasing laser-gas interaction path length. This is typically realized by using multipass cells (MPCs), which significantly increase the sensor’s complexity and decrease its robustness. Instead of using MPCs, an Antiresonant Hollow-Core Fiber (ARHCF), designed for light transmission in more than one spectral band can be used as a long gas absorption cell, leading to the increase in the sensor’s performance while keeping its design simple. Here, we present a sensor utilizing a combination of an ARHCF-based absorption cell and the QEPTS. In the developed system the gas-filled ARHCF substitutes an MPC. The spectroscopic signal analysis relies on the use of a simple QTF with a resonance frequency of 32.744 kHz connected with a self-made, low-noise amplifier and an addition of a wavelength modulation spectroscopy – based signal retrieval scheme for sensor’s performance enhancement. The sensor enables simultaneous detection of acetylene and methane at parts-per-million by volume level sensitivity, targeting their absorption lines in the near- and mid-infrared. The results confirm excellent suitability of the ARHCF-aided QEPTS sensors for being employed as a versatile gas detectors.
This research was funded by Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN), grant number UMO-2018/30/Q/ST3/00809.
We present the results of modelling of pressure-driven gas flow in a 14.7 meters long nodeless Antiresonant Hollow Core Fiber (ARHCF) for predicting the gas exchange time in the ARHCF-based laser absorption spectroscopy measurement systems. The implemented physical model is based on the Navier-Stokes equations for laminar flow. The tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy has been used for determining experimentally the ARHCF gas filling time. The obtained results confirmed the requirement for more complex geometric models to properly predict the core filling time of nodeless ARHCFs than a simple, single-channel approach, which can be used effectively for gap-less ARHCFs.
We present a proof-of-concept of the ARHCF-assisted gas molecules detection setup applying a non-wavelength modulation differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) technique to reduce an intermodal interferences effect and the compensation of changes in laser beam propagation parameters through ARHCF air-core. Toggled intensities of two air-core propagated laser beams have closely spaced wavelengths, while only one coinciding with targeted absorption line of acetylene at 1532.83 nm (~6524 cm-1). The difference in detected light intensities is used to determine a targeted gas concentration. Self-designed boxcar average unit allowed to 50 000 times/sec signals averaging, providing a minimal detection limit equal to 2.7 ppmv at 10s integration time.
Detection of Nitric Oxide at 5.26 µm is performed using photothermal interferometry and a 25 cm-long antiresonant hollow-core fiber as an absorption cell, reaching a minimum detection limit of 11 ppb for 144 seconds averaging. The proposed configuration shows the full potential of combining novel hollow-core fibers with the photothermal detection techniques, which allows separating the pump and the probe part of the sensor.
In this work, we present simultaneous and sensitive detection of methane and ethane at ~3.34 µm using a 15-meteres long self-fabricated silica ARHCF and Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy technique. The ARHCF was filled with a mixture of 10 ppmv and 20 ppmv ethane and methane, respectively via air-tight housings placed at both fiber end-facets. The gas molecules were excited using a self-built continuous wave Difference Frequency Generation source which radiation was coupled into the gas-filled ARHCF. The ARHCF-aided gas sensor reached a minimum detection limit at parts-per-billion by volume level, confirming the suitability of the proposed approach for trace-gas sensing.
One of the main challenges of laser-based gas sensingis the development of sensors delivering simultaneously high sensitivity, selectivity, fast-response time and non-complex design. Mostly, the detection capability of such sensors depends on the interaction path length between the laser light and the measured gas. Hence, long optical paths are highly desired for e.g. low-concentration gas sensing. Our proposal is to use Antiresonant Hollow-Core Fibers (ARHCFs), which filled with the target gas mixture form absorption cells with potentially any length, delivering low-volume, long and versatile optical paths within the sensor configuration. Currently, the ARHCF core is filled with the target gas via specially designed bulk-optics-based cells placed at the fiber’s ends. This solution provides relatively fast fiber core filling time, however being only efficient while an overpressure is used to force the gas flow through the core, not the diffusion. Therefore, searching for alternative ways of fiber filling with the target gas is necessary. We propose a method of processing the fiber structure using a femtosecond laser allowing for non-invasive accessing the fiber core for more efficient and faster gas diffusion into it through the fabricated microchannels. The fiber structure modification was optimized in a way that does not introduce any unwanted damage of the fiber e.g. cracks on the glass parts or cladding capillaries. The performed experiments have indicated that the laser-processing of the ARHCF structure introduces negligible transmission loss regardless of the number of fabricated microchannels and their length (0.2dB loss for 25 microchannels), confirming the proposed method suitability.
CO2 sensing using self-fabricated all-fiber gas cells based on a hollow-core photonic crystal fiber and chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy (CLaDS) is presented. I show that CLaDS enables significant reduction of optical fringes arising from the mutlimode nature of the air-core photonic bandgap (PBG) fiber, hence improving the gas sensing system’s stability and performance. By carefully selecting modulation frequency, it is possible to match the period of interference signal (resulting from coupling between fiber’s guided modes) and, therefore, suppress its contribution to the retrieved signal. CLaDS enables successful use of hollow-core PBG fibers in gas sensing applications.
In this work we analyze two aspects of our research towards a laser-based setup for open-path hydrogen sulfide detection. We demonstrate a compact and portable electronic part of the sensing system that can be constructed solely with commercially available, off-the-shelf components. Comparison with the setup that uses benchtop lock-in amplifier for signal demodulation is presented. We also discuss challenges in spectral modelling of H2S transitions in the near-IR spectral region using the data available in HITRAN base. We show that in order to perform correct spectral simulations (for both direct absorption spectroscopy and wavelength modulation spectroscopy) appropriate corrections to the data available in the database have to be applied.
We present measurements of the dispersion of two negative curvature fibers at and around 1 μm. These fibers are suitable for beam delivery of both high power and ultrashort pulse lasers with one designed to operate at 1030 nm and the other designed for dual wavelength delivery at 515 and 1030 nm. Both fibers were found to exhibit anomalous dispersion measured to be 2.17±0.25 ps nm−1 km−1 for the fundamental mode rising to 4.69±0.17 ps nm−1 km−1 for the first-order mode in the 1030-nm fiber. Dispersion in the double wavelength fiber was found to be higher at 3.81±0.03 ps nm−1 km−1 for the fundamental mode guiding at 1030 nm.
In this work we present a laser-based system for standoff/remote, sensitive detection of gases based on a tunable diode laser source and Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy method (WMS). System performance was experimentally characterized. The constructed device has proven its capacity of efficient detection of methane in air at the single ppm levels and distances from 10 to 50 m (distance to a scattering object). The minimum detection limit of the system was estimated at the level of 10 ppm-m for the standoff arrangement and the measurement path of approximately 20 m (round trip). Potential application of the device to hydrogen sulfide detection and current limitations in this area are discussed.
The purpose of this paper is to present a design procedure and experiment results for a continuous-action fiberoptic
laser based on PM-Er-PCF (polarization-maintaining erbium-doped photonic crystal fiber). To the best of our
knowledge, it's the first erbium-doped photonic fiber that maintains polarization. Stable single-wavelength actions were
observed in a laser ring configuration. A PM-Er-PCF optimization and an analysis of photonic crystal structure's impact
on laser parameters are demonstrated in the theoretical part of this article. The presented fiber laser can be used as a
signal source in WDM systems.
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