Abstract

The development of fully automated portable Continuous Wave (CW), Thermo Electrically Cooled (TEC), Quantum Cascade laser (QCL) based trace gas sensor for selective and ultra -sensitive Nitric Oxide (NO) concentration measurements is reported. The sensor is based on MEMS cantilever photoacoustic spectroscopy. The QCL has been designed to target the interference free NO R(6.5) absorption line at 1900.08 cm⁻¹. Sensor includes a virtual wavelength meter for real time wavelength monitoring, a wavelength tuning mechanism for interference free multi gas sensing. A minimum detectable concentration of 51.94 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) with 1 sec response time was achieved, which is capable of diagnosis Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD).

© 2016 Optical Society of America