Abstract

We demonstrate the application of a commercially available widely tunable continuous-wave external cavity quantum cascade laser as a spectroscopic source for the simultaneous detection of multiple gases. We measured broad absorption features of benzene and toluene between 1012 and $1063{\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}$ (9.88 and $9.41\mathrm{\mu m}$) at atmospheric pressure using an astigmatic Herriott multipass cell. Our results show experimental detection limits of 0.26 and $0.41\mathrm{ppm}$ for benzene and toluene, respectively, with a $100\mathrm{m}$ path length for these two gases.

© 2010 Optical Society of America

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