ERC - Small Business: Remote chemical sensing instrumentation based on chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy

智能价值这是美国国家科学基金会健康与环境技术工程研究中心(MIRTHE)和物理科学公司(PSI)的合作项目，PSI是一家世界知名的激光化学传感技术研究和开发公司。该提案的重点是开发一种新的紧凑、无低温的中红外硬靶LIDAR(激光探测和测距)技术，用于针对大气甲烷的远程光谱化学传感。拟议的系统将基于一种新的啁啾激光色散光谱(CLADS)技术，该技术最近由MIRTHE ERC的研究员Pi发明。该提案将开发一种新的遥感技术，能够监测大气中的甲烷，并将比目前最先进的技术有重大改进。北美目前的浓度范围从十亿分之1600到百万分之2200(Ppbv)。不幸的是，使用现有的甲烷监测仪器很难完全量化其排放量以及源和汇的位置。因此，需要能够对自然和人为的甲烷排放进行遥感的技术，以准确评估这种重要的温室气体的来源和汇。新的传感器系统CLADS基于对共振分子色散的测量，并提供独特的远程化学检测能力(即对光功率波动的免疫力)。拟议中的仪器还将利用另一项核心MIRTHE技术：量子级联激光器(QCL)。QCL提供了一个进入~3~16µm电磁光谱中红外区域的通道，在该区域，气相(包括甲烷)中的大多数化合物都具有最强的基本振动吸收特征。因此，中红外波长的检测能够实现对痕量气体的超高灵敏度检测。更广泛的影响超灵敏、快速、原位的分子远程检测在环境研究、工业排放监测和安全方面有着广泛的应用。因此，这一领域的新发现和科学进步与全面的教育计划相结合，将为新一代科学家和工程师提供极好的培训，并对社会福祉产生重大影响。该项目的多功能性提供了与研究目标相结合的全方位的教育和培训机会，并具体涉及从高中生到博士后研究人员的每个学术级别的职业发展目标。一名研究生和一名博士后的参与计划在该项目的预算范围内。本科生的参与将通过其他计划提供，包括强大的MIRTHE本科生研究体验(REU)计划。

Intellectual MeritThis is a collaborative project between an NSF Engineering Research Center for Technologies for Health and the Environment (MIRTHE) and Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), a company that is a world-renowned leader in the research and development of laser chemical sensing technologies. The proposal focuses on developing a new, compact, cryogen-free mid-infrared hard-target LIDAR (laser detection and ranging) technology for remote spectroscopic chemical sensing that will target atmospheric methane. The proposed system will be based on a new chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy (CLaDS) technique, recently invented by the PI, who is a researcher at the MIRTHE ERC. The proposal will develop a new remote sensing technology that is capable of atmospheric CH4 monitoring and will provide significant improvements over the current state-of-the-art. Present concentration in North America range from 1600 to 2200 parts per billion by volume (ppbv). Unfortunately, it is difficult to fully quantify its emission rates and location of sources and sinks using existing methane monitoring instrumentation. Thus technologies that enable remote sensing of natural and anthropogenic methane emissions are needed for accurate source and sink assessments of this important greenhouse gas. The new sensor system, CLaDS, is based on measurement of resonant molecular dispersion and provides unique capabilities for remote chemical detection (i.e. immunity to optical power fluctuations). The proposed instrumentation will also take advantage of another core MIRTHE technology; quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). QCLs give an access to the mid-infrared region of electromagnetic spectrum between ~3 and 16 ìm where most chemical compounds in the gas phase (including methane) possess their strongest fundamental ro-vibrational absorption features. As a result, detection at mid-IR wavelengths enables ultra-high sensitivity detection of trace-gases. Broader ImpactUltra-sensitive, fast, in-situ molecular remote detection has a large number of applications in environmental studies, industrial emission monitoring and security. Therefore new discoveries and scientific advancements in this field integrated with a comprehensive educational program will provide an excellent training for the new generation of scientists and engineers as well as have a strong impact on the well being of society. The versatility of the project provides a full spectrum of education and training opportunities integrated with the research goals and specifically addresses career development goals at each academic level from high school students to post-doctoral researchers. Participation of a graduate student and a post-doc is planned within the budget of this project. The engagement of undergraduate students will be provided through other programs including a strong MIRTHE Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) Program.