Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 8, 2025

Infrared Degenerate Four-wave Mixing with Upconversion Detection for Quantitative Gas Sensing
Published on: March 22, 2019
Precision Spectroscopy of Nitrous Oxide Isotopocules with a Cross-Dispersed Spectrometer and a Mid-Infrared Frequency
D Michelle Bailey1, Gang Zhao1, Adam J Fleisher1
1Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, United States.
None:
As a potent greenhouse gas and an ozone-depleting agent, nitrous oxide (N2O) plays a critical role in the global climate. Effective mitigation relies on understanding global sources and sinks, which can be supported through isotopic analysis. We present a cross-dispersed spectrometer, coupled with a mid-infrared frequency comb, capable of simultaneously monitoring all singly substituted, stable isotopic variants of N2O. Rigorous evaluation of the instrument lineshape function and data treatment using a Doppler-broadened, low-pressure gas sample are discussed. Laboratory characterization of the spectrometer demonstrates sub-GHz spectral resolution and an average precision of 6.7 × 10-6 for fractional isotopic abundance retrievals in 1 s.
Related Concept Videos
Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
There are three main types of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) instruments: sequential, simultaneous multichannel, and Fourier transform instruments, with the latter being less commonly used....
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
IR Spectrometers
IR Spectroscopy: Molecular Vibration Overview
Stretching vibrations are vibrational motions that occur along the bond line, changing the bond length or distance between two bonded atoms. They are further distinguished as symmetric or asymmetric. In symmetric stretching, the...
Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: Instrumentation
The atomizer used in AAS can be either a flame atomizer or an...
Raman Spectroscopy Instrumentation: Overview
The monochromatic laser source, typically using visible or near-infrared radiation, generates a highly focused beam of light. This light interacts with the molecules of the sample, scattering some of the light. Liquid and gaseous samples are usually tested in ordinary glass capillaries, while solids can be analyzed as powders packed in capillaries or as potassium...

