Mid-IR LIDAR for Detecting Volatile Organic Compounds

描述(由申请人提供)：该项目解决了开发现场可部署的传感器的需求，该传感器提供对挥发性有机化合物的实时定量测量--对人体健康有害的空气污染物。在这种特殊情况下，是苯、甲醛和1，3-丁二烯。这三种化合物已被确定为致癌风险最高的空气污染物。拟议的计划是普林斯顿技术顾问公司(一家小企业)和普林斯顿大学激光传感(PULSE)小组在普林斯顿大学中红外健康与环境技术(MIRTHE)-普林斯顿大学NSF工程研究中心的合作努力，将涉及便携式中红外VOC传感LIDAR(光检测和测距)的设计、建造、验证和测试。LIDAR基于两个主要创新：1)多组分化学分析将使新型中红外宽可调外腔量子级联激光器的广泛应用成为可能，该激光器具有无模式跳跃高分辨率波长调谐能力。2)相干光外差传感将显著提高光学探测能力，从而提供有限的散粒噪声灵敏度。这将改善探测距离、自然地形地物的后向散射，以及最重要的是应用灵敏度较低的热电冷却中红外探测器。即将开发的激光雷达将提供比采用更传统技术的仪器更高的灵敏度、特异度和快速反应时间。目标激光雷达系统在充电前将由电池供电至少8小时，在重量和大小上与摄像机相当。在该计划的第二阶段，将建造可现场部署的气敏激光雷达原型。它还将包括GPS和无线收发机，以提供实时数据输出，这些数据可以通过WiFi网络收集。将进行广泛的实地测试。 与公共健康相关：空气污染研究和环境健康社区将使用气体传感激光雷达监测接触VOCs的接触点。它们也可以部署在受职业健康和安全法规约束的制造设施中。长期固定部署也可用于延长时间段的毒理学研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project addresses the need for the development of field deployable, sensors which provide real-time quantitative measurements of Volatile Organic Compounds - airborne pollutants that are injurious to human health. In this particular case, benzene, formaldehyde and 1,3-butadiene. These three compounds have been identified as top cancer risk air pollutants The proposed program, a collaborative effort between Princeton Technology Advisers Company, Inc. (a small business) and Princeton University Laser Sensing (PULSe) group at Mid-Infrared Technologies for Health and Environment (MIRTHE) - NSF Engineering Research Center at Princeton University, will involve the design, construction, validation and testing of portable mid-IR VOC sensing LIDAR (LIght Detection And Ranging). The LIDAR is based upon two major innovations: 1) Multi-component chemical analysis will be enabled thorough application of novel mid-IR widely tunable external cavity quantum cascade lasers with mode-hop-free high resolution wavelength tuning capability. 2) Significant enhancement of the optical detection will be achieved through coherent optical heterodyne sensing, which will provide shot-noise limited sensitivities. This will allow for improved detection distances, back-scattering from natural topographic features and most importantly application of less sensitive thermoelectrically cooled mid-IR detectors. The LIDAR to be developed will provide high sensitivity, specificity and fast time response superior to instruments that employ more conventional techniques. The target LIDAR system will be batteries operated for at least 8 hours before recharging and will be comparable in weight and size to a camcorder. During Phase II of this program, the field-deployable prototypes of the gas sensing LIDAR will be built. It will additionally incorporate GPS and wireless transceiver to provide real time data output which can be collected using a WiFi network. Extensive field testing will be conducted. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Gas sensing LIDARs will be used by the air pollution research and environmental health community to monitor point-of contact exposure to VOCs. They can also be deployed in manufacturing facilities that are subject to occupational health and safety regulations. Long-time stationary deployments can also be used for toxicology studies over extended time periods.