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Related Experiment Videos

Off-axis cavity ringdown spectroscopy: application to atmospheric nitrate radical detection.

James D Ayers1, Randy L Apodaca, William R Simpson

  • 1Geophysical Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, USA.

Applied Optics
|December 2, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Atmospheric nitrate radicals (NO3) are now detectable using a novel off-axis cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) method with a diode laser. This advancement offers improved sensitivity for atmospheric NO3 monitoring.

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Area of Science:

  • Atmospheric Chemistry
  • Spectroscopy
  • Environmental Monitoring

Background:

  • Nitrate radicals (NO3) are key oxidants in the troposphere, influencing air quality and atmospheric chemistry.
  • Accurate measurement of NO3 is crucial for understanding atmospheric processes.
  • Cavity Ring-Down Spectroscopy (CRDS) is a sensitive technique for detecting trace gases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To demonstrate the first detection of atmospheric NO3 using off-axis CRDS with a room-temperature continuous-wave diode laser.
  • To evaluate the sensitivity and performance of this new CRDS instrument for NO3 measurements.

Main Methods:

  • Development and deployment of a prototype off-axis CRDS instrument utilizing a 662 nm cw diode laser.
  • Achieved a 1sigma absorption sensitivity of 5 x 10(-10) cm(-1) Hz(-1/2).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Measured ambient air in Fairbanks, Alaska, and compared results with a conventional CRDS instrument.

    • Main Results:

    • A detection limit of 1.4 parts per trillion by volume (2sigma) was achieved in 4.6 seconds.
    • The instrument demonstrated sensitivity comparable to advanced CRDS techniques for NO3.
    • Measurements showed excellent agreement (R2 = 0.97) with a conventional CRDS instrument.

    Conclusions:

    • Off-axis CRDS with a diode laser is a viable and sensitive method for atmospheric NO3 detection.
    • This technique offers a significant improvement over previous off-axis cavity-enhanced methods.
    • The developed instrument provides a robust tool for atmospheric NO3 monitoring and research.