Development of a pulsed quantum cascade laser (QCL) based spectroscopic gas sensor for detection of nitric oxide and other molecular species (NH{sub}3, H{sub}2O, and CO{sub}2) in industrial combustion exhaust systems will be reported. A fast modulation approach similar to the method used with near-IR diode lasers to minimize the influence of fluctuating nonselective absorption was adapted to pulsed QCLs. A novel method of a few pulses long wavelength scans with absorption probing at precisely selected optical frequencies was implemented. A high-temperature gas cell was used for laboratory testing of the NO sensor performance.
展开▼
