Abstract
Recent developments of external cavity quantum cascade lasers (EC-QC lasers) enable new applications in laser spectroscopy of trace gas species in the mid-infrared spectral region. We report the application of quartz enhanced photo acoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS) with widely tuneable EC-QC lasers as excitation sources for chemical sensing of different species such as triacetone triperoxide (TATP). A pulsed EC-QC laser operating at v∼1120cm-1 and a cw EC-QC laser operating at v∼950cm-1 are used for the detection of the explosive TATP which is a mid infrared broad band absorber. The detection limit of our present setup is ∼1ppm TATP at atmospheric pressure.
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