Trace gas sensor based on quartz tuning fork enhanced laser photoacoustic spectroscopy

• Published in: Applied physics. B, Lasers and optics Lasers and optics, 2009-03, Vol.94 (3), p.527-533
• Main Authors: Liu, K., Li, J., Wang, L., Tan, T., Zhang, W., Gao, X., Chen, W., Tittel, F. K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmospheric pressure; Barometric pressure; Biological and medical applications; Engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Gas sensors; General equipment and techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Laser spectroscopy; Lasers; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Quantum Optics; Quartz; Semiconductor lasers; laser diodes; Sensors; Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing; Tuning; Water vapor
• ISSN: 0946-2171; 1432-0649
• DOI: 10.1007/s00340-008-3233-x

A compact photoacoustic gas sensor based on a quartz tuning fork and fiber-coupled distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser for detection of trace gas at atmospheric pressure has been developed. The sensor performance was evaluated by detection of water vapor in ambient air at normal atmospheric pressure. A normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient of 1.68×10 −8  cm −1  W/Hz 1/2 was achieved. Influence of different acoustic microresonators and sample pressure on the sensor performance, and the characterization of the sensor response time were investigated. Approaches to improve the current sensor performance are discussed.