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High-sensitivity measurements of infrared absorptions due to isolated lines broadened by air at atmospheric pressure are reported. Tunable diode lasers and harmonic techniques were employed to detect absorptions as small as 0.01% over path lengths up to 250 m through the open air. The limiting noise source is caused by a base line signal which varies with the optical alignment. The reported sensitivity is not a fundamental limit. Techniques for further increasing sensitivity are discussed.

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A laser absorption spectrometer is described which uses a tunable diode laser and a 1-m multipass White cell to detect NO(2) in air with a sensitivity of better than 100 ppt. The modulation techniques employed to achieve this sensitivity are described in detail, and the noise mechanisms, which currently limit the detectable absorption coefficients to greater, similar 10(-7) m(-1), are examined.

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