Terahertz Intracavity Spectrometer
Abstract
A hand-held sensing and alarm system is needed for ultra-trace concentrations of chemical gases, biological aerosols, and explosive vapors. Unprecedented sensitivity is required due to low concentrations and low vapor pressures for many targets of interest. Zyberwear has identified intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy (ICLAS) as a promising solution. Our working name "Hyperdog" anticipates its sensing capabilities for trace vapors. Hyperdog provides greater than kilometer effective optical path lengths in a device with centimeter dimensions. Innovations include the use of room-temperature semiconductor quantum cascade lasers (QCL) in wavelength regions rich in molecular signatures. The simple low-power compact Hyperdog for spectral sensing of explosive vapors, chemical gases, and biological aerosols will have immediate application in Army operations. Additional industrial, bio-medical, and atmospheric science applications give Hyperdog tremendous commercial potential. Anticipated low vapor concentration creates the need for extreme sensitivity. Hyperdog provides this by combining kilometer effective absorption path lengths with the extreme sensitivity of the laser spectrum to intracavity absorption.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 17, 2012
- Accession Number
- AD1195266
Entities
People
- Oliver Edwards