SBIR Phase II: An Improved Open-Path FTIR Spectrometer for Remote Monitoring of Atmospheric Gases

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目将使Energetiq技术公司。开发和商业化先进的开放路径傅里叶变换红外光谱仪（OPFTIR）仪器，用于长距离监测大气气体。 第二阶段的技术目标将是优化高亮度红外光源和光学子系统，以实现长路径仪器的能力。 对于目前的FTIR仪器，红外光源是热黑体，限于约1000 ℃的操作温度。 对于OP-FTIR仪器，依赖于这种低亮度光源的后果是（a）笨重且昂贵的IR光学器件;（B）昂贵的IR检测器;和（c）有限的监测范围？通常小于几百米。 在第一阶段开发的激光加热红外光源已经证明了大于2000 C的操作。与标准GlobarTM源的直接比较显示了2到10之间的信号幅度的改善（取决于波长），并且信噪比测量意味着从1.5到约6的可检测性的改善。 这项研究的更广泛的影响是在环境监测领域，并可能在国土安全应用。 OP-FTIR仪器的成本和尺寸将减小，范围和灵敏度将增加。 随着对监测包括二氧化碳等全球升温气体在内的大气污染物总通量的日益重视，OP-FTIR仪器今后将得到更广泛的使用。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project will enable Energetiq Technology, Inc. to develop and commercialize an advanced Open-Path FTIR Spectrometer (OPFTIR) instrument for monitoring of atmospheric gases over extended distances. The Phase II technical goals will be the optimization of a high-brightness infrared source and optical subsystem that will enable long path instrument capabilities. For current FTIR instruments the infrared light source is a thermal blackbody, limited to operating temperatures of approximately 1000 C. For OP-FTIR instruments the consequences of relying on such low-brightness light sources are (a) bulky and expensive IR optics; (b) expensive IR detectors; and (c) limited monitoring range ? typically less than a few hundred meters. The laser heated IR light source developed in Phase I has demonstrated greater than 2000C operation. Direct comparison with a standard GlobarTM source shows an improvement in signal amplitude of between 2 and 10 (depending on wavelength) and signal to noise measurements imply an improvement in detectability of from 1.5 to about 6. The broader impacts of this research are in the area of environmental monitoring and potentially in Homeland Security applications. The cost and size of OP-FTIR instruments will be reduced and the range and sensitivity increased. With increased emphasis on monitoring total fluxes of atmospheric pollutants, including global warming gases such as CO2, OP-FTIR instruments will be even more widely used in the future.