Pulsed quantum-cascade laser-based sensor for trace-gas detection of carbonyl sulfide

Appl Opt. 2004 Nov 10;43(32):6040-6. doi: 10.1364/ao.43.006040.

Abstract

Simultaneous exhaled carbonyl sulfide (OCS) and carbon dioxide concentration measurements in human breath are demonstrated with a compact pulsed quantum-cascade laser-based gas sensor. We achieved a noise-equivalent sensitivity (1sigma) of 1.2 parts per billion by measuring a well-isolated OCS P(11) absorption line in the v3 band at 2057.6 cm(-1) using an astigmatic Herriott cell of 36-m optical path length and 0.4-s acquisition time.