Recent advances in gas detection using optical correlation spectroscopy

Abstract

A unique approach to gas detection using optical correlation spectroscopy (OCS) has been investigated. By employing a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) with an optical fibre delay line to generate the anti-phase signal, zero point drift errors are minimised and compatibility with single mode optical fibre systems has been achieved. Experimental results, obtained for varying concentrations of acetylene (C2H2) gas at different pressures, agree well with the theoretical analysis. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) analysis was also performed to predict the theoretical minimum detectable concentration for C2H2