We developed a mid-IR 2f-wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) detection system combining a continuous wave external-cavity quantum cascade laser (QCL) at 5.2 μm and an astigmatic multipass cell. The high-sensitivity performance of the 2f-WMS system was validated by simultaneously probing the strongest interference-free absorption lines of Λ-doublet components of R (6.5) rotational line in 2Π1/2 magnetic electronic sub-state of nitric oxide (NO) centred at 1900.0706 cm−1 and the R (18) rotational line of carbonyl sulphide (OCS) in the (ν 1 + 2ν 2) combination band centred at 1899.9756 cm−1. We compared the results with the direct absorption spectroscopy and have shown that a detection limit of 300 ppb for NO and 3 ppm for OCS could easily be achieved by the 2f-WMS method with an optical pathlength of 76 m. Hence, we believe that in the future the present QCL based 2f-WMS detection method with high sensitivity and specificity could be deployed for real-time monitoring of NO and OCS in a harsh environment.

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Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is an important air pollutant due to its environmental impact and adverse effects on human health. It is released into the atmosphere primarily through anthropogenic activities. Here, we report on the development of a simple, compact, and cost-effective robust optical detection method exploiting cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy for high-sensitive and selective measurement of NO2 levels in real-time using a visible diode laser operating at 406 nm. A typical detection limit of ∼330 ppb for NO2 was achieved with an optimum acquisition time of ∼3.9 s, at optimal cavity pressure of 100 Torr. The sensor system demonstrates an effective optical path-length of 180 m in a high-finesse 50 cm long optical cavity in an interference-free spectral region and aerosol-free conditions. The spectrometer was optimized, calibrated, and demonstrated for the detection of NO2 levels in vehicular exhaust gases.

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