We report on the development of a new sensor for ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ with ultrahigh sensitivity of detection. This has been accomplished by combining off-axis integrated cavity output spectroscopy (OA-ICOS) (which can provide large path lengths of the order of several kilometers in a small volume cell) with multiple-line integrated absorption spectroscopy (MLIAS) (where we integrate the absorption spectra over a large number of rotational–vibrational transitions of the molecular species to further improve the sensitivity). Employing an external cavity quantum cascade laser operating in the $1601–1670{\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}$ range and a high-finesse optical cavity, the absorption spectra of ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ over 100 transitions in the R band have been recorded. From the observed linear relationship between the integrated absorption versus concentration of ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ and the standard deviation of the integrated absorption signal, we report an effective sensitivity of detection of approximately $28\mathrm{ppt}$ (parts in ${10}^{12}$ ) for ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ . To the best of our knowledge, this is among the most sensitive levels of detection of ${\mathrm{NO}}_2$ to date.

© 2011 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Figure files are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

Related Journal Articles

• Mid-Infrared Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers for Chemical Sensing (AO)
• Continuous-Wave Laser Spectrometer Automatically Aligned and Continuously Tuned from 11.8 to 16.1 μm by Use of Diode-Laser-Pumped Difference-Frequency Generation in GaSe (AO)
• High-sensitivity detection of triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and its precursor acetone (AO)
• High sensitivity detection of NO₂ employing cavity ringdown spectroscopy and an external cavity continuously tunable quantum cascade laser (AO)
• External cavity tunable quantum cascade lasers and their applications to trace gas monitoring (AO)

Related Conference Papers

• On-Orbit Characterization of Blackbody Emissivity and Spectrometer Instrument Line-Shape Using Quantum Cascade Laser Based Reflectometry
• Design and Deployment of a Quantum Cascade Laser Absorption Spectrometer in an Open-Path Sensor System For Trace Gas Analysis
• Ammonia Sensor for Environmental Monitoring Based on a 10.4 µm External-Cavity Quantum Cascade Laser
• Monitoring of atmospheric ammonia in the greater Houston area using a 10.4 μm external-cavity quantum cascade laser
• High sensitivity detection of NO2 using ICOS and MLIAS