Performance improvement and analysis of a 1.6 μm continuous-wave modulation laser absorption spectrometer system for CO2 sensing

In a previous study, we developed a 1.6 μm continuous-wave (cw) modulation laser absorption spectrometer system for CO(2) sensing and demonstrated the measurement of small fluctuations in CO(2) corresponding to a precision of 4 parts per million (ppm) with a measurement interval of 32 s. In this paper, we present the process to achieve this highly specific measurement by introducing important points, which have not been shown in the previous study. Following the results of preliminary experiments, we added a function for speckle averaging on the optical antenna unit. We additionally came up with some ideas to avoid the influences of etalon effects and polarization dependence in optical components. Because of the new functions, we realized a calibration precision of 0.006 dB (rms), which corresponds to a CO(2) concentration precision of less than 1 ppm for a 2 km path. We also analyzed the CO(2) sensing performance after the improvements described above. The measured short time fluctuation of the differential absorption optical depth was reasonably close to that calculated using the carrier-to-noise ratio of the received signal.     

Atmospheric CO2 measurements with a 2 μm airborne laser absorption spectrometer employing coherent detection

We report airborne measurements of CO(2) column abundance conducted during two 2009 campaigns using a 2.05 μm laser absorption spectrometer. The two flight campaigns took place in the California Mojave desert and in Oklahoma. The integrated path differential absorption (IPDA) method is used for the CO(2) column mixing ratio retrievals. This instrument and the data analysis methodology provide insight into the capabilities of the IPDA method for both airborne measurements and future global-scale CO(2) measurements from low Earth orbit pertinent to the NASA Active Sensing of CO(2) Emissions over Nights, Days, and Seasons mission. The use of a favorable absorption line in the CO(2) 2 μm band allows the on-line frequency to be displaced two (surface pressure) half-widths from line center, providing high sensitivity to the lower tropospheric CO(2). The measurement repeatability and measurement precision are in good agreement with predicted estimates. We also report comparisons with airborne in situ measurements conducted during the Oklahoma campaign.     

Simultaneous measurements of CO2 and CO using a single distributed-feedback (DFB) diode laser near 1.57 μm at elevated temperatures

A sensor using a single distributed-feedback (DFB) diode laser at 1.57 μm for the simultaneous measurement of CO(2) and CO concentration at elevated temperatures is developed. A proper line pair near 6361.250 and 6361.344 cm(-1) is chosen based on absorption strength, separation of the two lines, and isolation from interference of neighboring transitions of the major combustion gases. The concentrations of CO(2) and CO are inferred from their wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) 1?-normalized absorption-based WMS-2? signal peak heights. The CO(2) and CO concentration measurements are within 3.3% and 5% of the expected values over the full temperature range.     

The Interpretation of Phase-Slip and Critical-Velocity Data from the Flow of Superfluid 4He through a 2 μm by 2 μm Aperture

An analysis has been made of phase-slip and critical-velocity data for both the ac and dc flow of superfluid ⁴ He through a 2 m by 2 m aperture in a 0.1-m-thick titanium foil between 0.36 and 2.10 K. Single-2 phase slips were resolvable over the entire range of temperature in the ac flow measurements, carried out between 10 and 20 Hz, making it possible to determine the width of the critical-velocity distribution throughout the temperature range from these measurements. These data have been interpreted in terms of the thermal nucleation of vortex half-rings at the walls of the aperture, involving a velocity- and temperature-dependent energy barrier. The barrier can be modeled with moderate success using an approach close to that of Avenel and Varoquaux and coworkers.     

Monochromatic Radiation Source Based on a Supercontinuum Laser for Measurement of Spectral Sensitivity of Radiation Detectors in the Range 0.9–1.6 μm with the Use of an Absolute Cryogenic Radiometer

Measurement Techniques - An improved monochromatic radiation source with spectral width 4 nm based on a supercontinuum laser and double monochromator is introduced into a unit based on an absolute...     

Thermodynamic analysis and optimization of a novel N2O–CO2 cascade system for refrigeration and heating

In this study, a natural refrigerant based cascaded system, with nitrous oxide as the low temperature fluid and carbon dioxide as the high temperature fluid, is analyzed for simultaneous cooling and heating applications. Effects of significant design and operating parameters on system performance are studied. Optimization of intermediate pressure for maximum COP for various design and operating parameters are presented as well. Results show that use of internal heat exchanger has marginal influence on system performance. Due to similar thermodynamic properties of nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide, the optimized intermediate temperature turns out to be independent of the performance of gas cooler and evaporator for a given operating condition. Due to the same reason, N₂O as low temperature fluid and CO₂ as high temperature fluid in a cascade arrangement exhibit similar behavioural trends in a system where the fluids are swapped.     

Effect of Te addition on some physical properties of the Se3S2 system and a study of the response to γ-irradiation

Glasses based on sulphur and tellurium were carefully characterized to establish the interdependence between chemical composition and the magnitudes of the physical parameters related to their use as infrared optical materials. Parameters considered in this paper are density, molar volume, transition temperatures, crystallization activation energy, decomposition energy, direct current (d.c.) electrical properties, optical energy gap and infrared transmission spectra in the range 400–6000 cm^–1. The irradiation has no detectable effect on both the d.c. conductivity of the bulk glass and the optical energy gap.     

The formation of a hydroxyl bond and the effects thereof on bone-like apatite formation on a magnesia partially stabilized zirconia (MgO–PSZ) bioceramic following CO2 laser irradiation

For the purpose of improving the bioactivity of a magnesia partially stabilized zirconia (MgO-PSZ) and to explore a new technique for inducing OH group and apatite formation, a CO(2) laser has been used to modified the surface properties. The bioactivity of the CO(2) laser modified MgO-PSZ has been investigated in stimulated human fluids (SBF) with ion concentrations almost equal to those in human blood plasma. Some hydroxyl groups were found on the MgO-PSZ following CO(2) laser treatment with selected power densities. The surface melting on the MgO-PSZ induced by CO(2) laser processing provides the Zr(4+) ion and OH(-) ion, in turn, the incorporation of the Zr(4+) ion and the OH(-) ion creates the Zr-OH group on the surface. After 14 days of SBF soaking, the apatites formed on the MgO-PSZ with relatively high amount of hydroxyl groups generated by the CO(2) laser treatment, while no apatite was observed on the untreated with few hydroxyl groups. It exhibits that the Zr-OH groups on the MgO-PSZ surface is the functional groups to facilitate the apatite formation. The increased surface roughness provides more active sites, meantime, increased surface energy benefits to the adsorption and reaction on the surface.