6848.1:
Infrared gas spectroscopy on a chip
Abstract
An infrared laser gas-spectrometer on a chip is developed A lead-chalcogenide layer stack serves as a mid-IR-source in the 2-5 um range. One facet of the source stack is reflection coated and acts as first laser mirror, the other facet is antireflection coated. The second resonator mirror is placed apart. The gas to be measured flows trough the open path between emitter and second reflector. The mid-IR source is pumped electrically, or optically by a 0.9 um low-cost telecom laser diode. An application of the device is medical like real time monitoring of exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and exhaled carbon dioxide (eCO2) of asthma patients. Optical gas detection for explosion warning and fire detection are two of many other possible applications.