Photoacoustic Detection Of Nitric Oxide With A Helmholtz Resonant Quantum Cascade Laser Sensor

Nitric oxide detection has been performed with a Helmholtz resonant photoacoustic sensor previously developed in Reims. The cell was coupled with a continuous wave distributed feedback quantum cascade laser working at cryogenic temperature in continuous wave mode in the 5.4 mu m region. A detection limit of 20 ppb of nitric oxide in nitrogen with a laser power of 3 mW can be predicted. Possible applications and improvements are discussed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.