High sensitivity Faraday rotation spectrometer for hydroxyl radical detection at 2.8 μm

W. Zhao, Gerard Wysocki, W. Chen, W. Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

A distributed feedback diode laser based Faraday rotation spectroscopy (FRS) instrument was developed for detection of hydroxyl free radical (OH) at 2.8 μm. Fast wavelength sweeping method was implemented and the instrument performances were compared with point-by-point wavelength tuning method. The fast sweeping operation mode showed the same short-term minimum detection limit and improved immunity to baseline drift. The effects of strong diamagnetic H2O vapor absorption on FRS detection of paramagnetic OH were investigated. We demonstrated that in the case of strong H2O vapor absorption, the magnitude of the FRS signal for OH might be affected due to changes in the received optical power. The effects of higher laser intensity on the FRS detection sensitivity were also studied experimentally.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)511-519
Number of pages9
JournalApplied Physics B: Lasers and Optics
Volume109
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'High sensitivity Faraday rotation spectrometer for hydroxyl radical detection at 2.8 μm'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this