Abstract

The laser spectroscopic techniques for detecting minor gaseous pollutants of the atmosphere have made rapid advances in the last few years. The most important optical process for detection of air pollutants is based on the extinction of radiation by molecular absorption. Each molecule absorbs light at a particular wavelength or a range of wavelengths, a characteristic of the molecule. Thus a measurement of absorption of light at the molecule's characteristic wavelength produces a mean of determining a particular molecule at the presence of other molecules. Problems can, and often arise from overlapping spectrums due to other molecules of the atmosphere. In this case, it is necessary to identify the molecules which cause these overlappings. In some cases, one might be interested in finding multiple pollutants of the atmosphere.

© 1992 Optical Society of America