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Characterizing Far-infrared Laser Emissions and the Measurement of Their Frequencies

Characterizing Far-infrared Laser Emissions and the Measurement of Their Frequencies

Published on: December 18, 2015

Breath analysis with broadly tunable quantum cascade lasers.

Katharina Wörle¹, Felicia Seichter, Andreas Wilk

¹Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany.

Analytical Chemistry

|January 17, 2013

Summary

This study introduces a novel method using external cavity quantum cascade lasers (EC-QCLs) and hollow waveguide gas cells for precise carbon dioxide (CO2) isotope ratio analysis in exhaled breath. This technique offers a promising tool for breath analysis applications.

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Area of Science:

Spectroscopy
Analytical Chemistry
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy offers high spectral brightness for precise molecular analysis.
Accurate determination of carbon dioxide (CO2) isotopes in exhaled breath is crucial for medical diagnostics.
External cavity quantum cascade lasers (EC-QCLs) provide tunable MIR light sources.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop and validate a novel method for quantitative isotope ratio determination of carbon-12 (12CO2) and carbon-13 (13CO2) in exhaled breath.
To combine EC-QCLs with hollow waveguide (HWG) gas cells for enhanced breath analysis.
To assess the viability of this technique for isotope-selective breath analysis.

Main Methods:

Utilized a broadly tunable EC-QCL operating in the MIR spectral regime.

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Last Updated: May 15, 2026

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Employed a miniaturized hollow waveguide gas cell for sample containment.

Applied multivariate data analysis, including partial least-squares regression, for accurate quantification.

Validated results using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Main Results:

Successfully quantified the (12)CO2/(13)CO2 isotope ratio in mouse exhaled breath.
Achieved high accuracy in isotope ratio determinations, overcoming spectral overlap challenges.
Demonstrated the effectiveness of multivariate calibration and data preprocessing techniques.

Conclusions:

The combination of IR-HWG-EC-QCL sensing is a viable technique for isotope-selective exhaled breath analysis.
This method provides accurate and reliable isotope ratio measurements in complex biological samples.
The developed system holds potential for non-invasive diagnostic applications in breath analysis.