Mid-IR LIDAR for Detecting Volatile Organic Compounds

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目解决了现场部署的传感器的发展需要，提供挥发性有机化合物-空气中的污染物，对人体健康有害的实时定量测量。在这种情况下，苯，甲醛和1，3-丁二烯。这三种化合物已被确定为最高癌症风险的空气污染物。（一家小型企业）和普林斯顿大学健康与环境中红外技术（MIRTHE）-美国国家科学基金会工程研究中心的普林斯顿大学激光传感（PULSe）小组将参与便携式中红外VOC传感激光雷达（光探测和测距）的设计、建造、验证和测试。LIDAR基于两个主要创新：1）多组分化学分析将通过新型中红外宽调谐外腔量子级联激光器的应用实现，该激光器具有无模式跳变的高分辨率波长调谐能力。 2)通过相干光外差传感将实现光学检测的显著增强，这将提供散粒噪声限制的灵敏度。这将允许改进检测距离、来自自然地形特征的后向散射以及最重要的是应用不太敏感的热电冷却中红外检测器。将开发的激光雷达将提供高灵敏度，特异性和快速的时间响应，优于采用更传统技术的仪器上级。目标激光雷达系统将在充电前使用电池至少8小时，其重量和尺寸与摄像机相当。在该计划的第二阶段，将建造可现场部署的气体传感激光雷达原型。它还将结合全球定位系统和无线收发器，以提供可以使用WiFi网络收集的真实的时间数据输出。将进行广泛的实地测试。 公共卫生相关性：气体传感激光雷达将被空气污染研究和环境健康社区用于监测接触点暴露于VOC。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长时间的毒理学研究。

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.