Abstract

Gas monitoring applications using semiconductor lasers, operating in the 0.7-2.0-μm near-infrared (MR) wavelength region, is a fast growing area with large potential. NIR semiconductor lasers have many advantages such as room-temperature operation, several mW of output power in a single longitudinal mode and compatibility with silica fibers and a variety of fiber-optic components already developed. Ammonia monitoring is essential for several reasons, e.g., the gas itself is a health hazard and modem powerplants use ammonia to reduce NO_x emissions from combustion processes.

© 1996 Optical Society of America