Abstract:
A reference harmonic absorption curve of a laser absorption spectrometer can have a reference curve shape derived from a reference signal generated by the detector in response to light passing from the laser light source through a reference gas or gas mixture. The reference gas or gas mixture can include one or more of a target analyte and a background gas expected to be present during analysis of the target analyte. A test harmonic absorption curve having a test curve shape is compared with the reference harmonic absorption curve to detect a difference between the test curve shape and the reference curve shape. Operating and/or analytical parameters of the laser absorption spectrometer are adjusted to correct the test curve shape to reduce the difference between the test curve shape and the reference curve shape.
Abstract:
A system and method are disclosed for the detection of ethylene oxide in a sample of gas, such as air. The system includes a light source operating at a wavelength where molecules typically found within air absorb light at a substantially lower level than ethylene oxide molecules. Exemplary wavelengths are in the range of approximately 1.6-2.2 nullm, and in particular at 1.6 nullm, 1.645 nullm, 1.692 nullm, 2.195 nullm, 2.2 nullm, 2.216 nullm, passes through the sample of gas to be detected by a detector. In one embodiment, the light source is a tunable diode laser or a VCSEL and the ethylene oxide level is determined using harmonic spectroscopy.
Abstract:
An optical head assembly (160) for use in a spectrometer is provided that is configured to characterize one or more constituents within a sample gas. The assembly includes a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) (310) having a cold side on one end and a hot side on an opposite end, a cold plate (315) in thermal communication with the cold side of the TEC, a hot block (305) in thermal communication with the hot side of the TEC, a light source (105) in thermal communication with the cold plate such that a change in temperature of the TEC causes one or more properties of the light source (e.g., wavelength, etc.) to change, and an optical element (325) in thermal communication with the cold plate positioned to collimate light emitted by the light source through the sample gas (such that properties of the optical element vary based on a change in temperature of the TEC).
Abstract:
A spectrometer includes a light source configured to emit a beam along a beam path through a sample volume comprising an analyte. Also included is at least one detector positioned to detect at least a portion of the beam emitted by the light source, and at least one reflector positioned along the beam path intermediate the light source and the at least one detector having a surface roughness greater than a predefined level such as 20 Å RMS.
Abstract:
A spectrometer includes a light source that emits a beam into a sample volume comprising an absorbing medium. Thereafter, at least one detector detects at least a portion of the beam emitted by the light source. It is later determined, based on the detected at least a portion of the beam and by a controller, that a position and/or an angle of the beam should be changed. The beam emitted by the light source is then actively steered by an actuation element under control of the controller. In addition, a concentration of the absorbing media can be quantified or otherwise calculated (using the controller or optionally a different processor that can be local or remote). The actuation element(s) can be coupled to one or more of the light source, a detector or detectors, and a reflector or reflectors intermediate the light source and the detector(s).
Abstract:
Detector data representative of an intensity of light that impinges on a detector after being emitted from a light source and passing through a gas over a path length can be analyzed using a first analysis method to obtain a first calculation of an analyte concentration in the volume of gas and a second analysis method to obtain a second calculation of the analyte concentration. The second calculation can be promoted as the analyte concentration upon determining that the analyte concentration is out of a first target range for the first analysis method.
Abstract:
Scrubber media for reactive gases, that can include but are not necessarily limited to hydrogen chloride (HCl), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), hydrogen fluoride (HF), and ammonia (NH3), can include reactive particles, potentially as small as nano-scale, that can optionally be suspended on macro-scale carrier particles. Reactive gases can be converted to non-volatile compounds by being passed through a bed of such scrubber media. Such scrubber media can be used to remove reactive gases from gas mixtures. Potential applications include differential absorption spectroscopy, air pollutant emission controls, and the like. Methods of preparing scrubber media are also described.
Abstract:
A differential absorption spectrum for a reactive gas in a gas mixture can be generated for sample absorption data by subtracting background absorption data set from the sample absorption data. The background absorption data can be characteristic of absorption characteristics of the background composition in a laser light scan range that includes a target wavelength. The differential absorption spectrum can be converted to a measured concentration of the reactive gas using calibration data. A determination can be made whether the background composition has substantially changed relative to the background absorption data, and new background absorption data can be used if the background composition has substantially changed. Related systems, apparatus, methods, and/or articles are also described..
Abstract:
Low concentrations of water vapor within a background of one or more hydrocarbon gases may be detected and quantified using a differential absorption spectrometer. A dehydrated sample of the gas is used as a background sample whose absorption spectrum allows elimination of absorption features not due to water vapor in the gas. Absorption spectra may recorded using tunable diode lasers as the light source, these lasers may have a wavelength bandwidth that is narrower than the water vapor absorption feature used for the differential absorption spectral analysis.
Abstract:
A first contact surface (310) of a semiconductor laser chip (302) can be formed to a first target surface roughness and a second contact surface (312) of a carrier mounting (304) can be formed to a second target surface roughness. A first bond preparation layer (306) comprising a first metal can optionally be applied to the formed first contact surface, and a second bond preparation layer (308) comprising a second metal can optionally be applied to the formed second contact surface. Both preparation layers may be made of gold and diffusion bonding results from a heating of device under pressure. The first contact surface can be contacted with the second contact surface, and a solderless securing process can secure the semiconductor laser chip to the carrier mounting. Related systems, methods, articles of manufacture, and the like are also described.