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

这一小型企业创新研究(SBIR)二期项目将使Energetiq Technology，Inc.能够开发先进的开放式FTIR光谱仪(OPFTIR)并将其商业化，用于远距离监测大气气体。第二阶段的技术目标将是优化高亮度红外源和光学子系统，使其能够实现长光程仪器能力。对于目前的FTIR仪器，红外光源是一个热黑体，工作温度限制在大约1000摄氏度。对于OP-FTIR仪器，依赖这种低亮度光源的后果是：(A)笨重和昂贵的红外光学元件；(B)昂贵的红外探测器；(C)监测范围有限？通常不到几百米。一期研制的激光加热红外光源工作温度超过2000C。与标准GlobarTM信号源的直接比较表明，信号幅度提高了2到10(取决于波长)，信噪比测量意味着可探测性从1.5提高到约6。这项研究的更广泛影响是在环境监测领域，并可能在国土安全应用中。降低了OP-FTIR仪器的成本和体积，提高了仪器的量程和灵敏度。随着对包括二氧化碳等全球变暖气体在内的大气污染物总通量监测的日益重视，OP-FTIR仪器将在未来得到更广泛的应用。

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.