We report on the development and airborne field deployment of a mid-IR laser based spectrometer. The instrument was configured for the simultaneous in-situ detection of formaldehyde (CH2O) and ethane (C2H6). Numerous mechanical, optical, electronic, and software improvements over a previous instrument design resulted in reliable highly sensitive airborne operation with long stability times yielding 90% airborne measurement coverage during the recent air quality study over the Colorado front range, FRAPPÉ 2014. Airborne detection sensitivities of ~ 15 pptv (C2H6) and ~40 pptv (CH2O) were generally obtained for 1 s of averaging for simultaneous detection.
Revised: March 24, 2016 |
Published: February 1, 2015
Citation
Richter D., P. Weibring, J. Walega, A. Fried, S.M. Spuler, and M.S. Taubman. 2015.Compact Highly Sensitive Multi-species Airborne Mid-IR Spectrometer.Applied Physics B. Lasers and Optics 119, no. 1:119-131.PNNL-SA-106448.doi:10.1007/s00340-015-6038-8