Abstract

A measurement technique is discussed that allows for remote sensing of polluting gases that are emitted together with the water droplets in a steam plume. Infrared laser radiation is backscattered from the droplets. As wavelength of the radiation is varied, resonant absorption in the gases diminishes the backscatter signal; this may be quantitatively related to the Concentration of specific gases. The backscatter arrangement makes possible the construction of a compact, single-ended, remote sensing instrument. Feasibility of this concept has been demonstrated in a laboratory experiment where a laser beam at 3.391 μm and 4.217 μm was scattered from a steam plume containing controlled amounts of CH₄ and CO₂.

© 1973 Optical Society of America

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