CAREER: Coherent Mid-Infrared Molecular Dispersion Spectroscopy for Ultra-Sensitive Chemical Detection

这个教师早期职业发展（CAREER）奖的研究目标是研究一种新的光谱传感技术。计划的方法利用相干激光辐射，并结合了直接激光吸收光谱的优点，具有间接零基线光谱传感方法特有的精度和噪声抑制能力。该研究将包括分子色散的理论研究，光谱建模，最佳检测技术的研究，以及对色散光谱优化的中红外激光器的研究。为了克服现有的激光吸收光谱技术的局限性，一种新的方法基于色散的测量将进行研究。包括在调查是基础物理和工程问题的解决方案，在建设新的EC-QC激光器。该研究的预期成果是灵敏和多功能的化学检测技术，以及在包括分布式大气传感器网络和远程化学检测在内的各种现场应用中的新实现，该研究有望导致能够实现pptv级分辨率的高灵敏度气体和化学传感器的开发。将该技术应用于痕量气体检测将导致更灵敏、更小和更通用的传感器。新的应用，包括大面积光谱传感器网络的大气监测，远程化学传感器在国防和安全，或手持/可穿戴气体暴露监测将受益于拟议的研究。 该项目的跨学科性质将如何提供与研究目标相结合的教育和培训机会。

The research objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award is to study a new spectroscopic sensing technique. The planned approach takes advantage of the coherent laser radiation and combines the advantages of direct laser absorption spectroscopy with a precision and noise suppression capability that are characteristic to indirect, zero-baseline spectroscopic sensing methods. The research will include theoretical investigations of the molecular dispersion, spectroscopic modeling, studies of optimum detection techniques, and research on mid-IR lasers optimized for dispersion spectroscopy. To overcome the limitations of existing laser absorption spectroscopy techniques, a novel approach based on the measurement of dispersion will be investigated. Included in the investigation are fundamental physics and the solution of engineering problems in the construction of new EC-QC lasers. Sensitive and versatile chemical detection technology and new implementations in variety of field applications including distributed atmospheric sensor networks, and remote chemical detection are the expected outcome.The research is expected to lead to development of highly sensitive gas and chemical sensors capable of pptv-level resolution. The application of the proposed technology to trace-gas detection will result in more sensitive, smaller and more versatile sensors. New applications including large area spectroscopic sensor networks for atmospheric monitoring, remote chemical sensing in defense and security, or hand-held/wearable gas exposure monitoring will benefit from the proposed research. How the interdisciplinary nature of the project would provide a spectrum of education and training opportunities integrated with the research goals is presented.