Gas sensing spectroscopy system utilizing a sample grating distributed feedback quantum cascade laser array and type II superlattice detector

Nathaniel R. Coirier, Andrea I. Gomez-Patron, Manijeh Razeghi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gas spectroscopy is a tool that can be used in a variety of applications. One example is in the medical field, where it can diagnose patients by detecting biomarkers in breath, and another is in the security field, where it can safely alert personnel about ambient concentrations of dangerous gas. In this paper, we document the design and construction of a system compact enough to be easily deployable in defense, healthcare, and chemical safety environments. Current gas sensing systems use basic quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) or distributed feedback quantum cascade lasers (DFB QCLs) with large benchtop signal recovery systems to determine gas concentrations. There are significant issues with these setups, namely the lack of laser tunability and the lack of practicality outside of a very clean lab setting. QCLs are advantageous for gas sensing purposes because they are the most efficient lasers at the mid infrared region (MIR). This is necessary since gases tend to have stronger absorption lines in the MIR range than in the near-infrared (NIR) region. To incorporate the efficiency of a QCL with wide tuning capabilities in the MIR region, sampled grating distributed feedback (SGDFB) QCLs are the answer as they have produced systems that are widely tunable, which is advantageous for scanning a robust and complete absorption spectrum. The system employs a SGDFB QCL array emitter, a Type II InAsSb Superlattice detector receiver, a gas cell, and a cooling system.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationQuantum Sensing and Nano Electronics and Photonics XVII
EditorsManijeh Razeghi, Jay S. Lewis, Giti A. Khodaparast, Pedram Khalili
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510633391
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
EventQuantum Sensing and Nano Electronics and Photonics XVII 2020 - San Francisco, United States
Duration: Feb 2 2020Feb 6 2020

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11288
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceQuantum Sensing and Nano Electronics and Photonics XVII 2020
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco
Period2/2/202/6/20

Keywords

  • Gas spectroscopy
  • Quantum cascade lasers
  • Type II InAsSb superlattice detector

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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