Absorption technique for OH measurements and calibration

Journal Article · Sun Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Appl. Opt.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.21.002901· OSTI ID:6610153

Bakalyar, D M; James, J V; Wang, C C

An absorption technique is described which utilizes a stabilized frequency-doubled tunable dye laser and a long-path White cell with high mirror reflectivities both in the red and UV. In laboratory conditions we have been able to obtain routinely a detection sensitivity of 3 parts in 10/sup 6/ over absorption paths <1 m in length and a detection sensitivity of approx.6 parts in 10/sup 5/ over an absorption path of the order of 1 km. The latter number corresponds to 3 x 10/sup 6/ OH molecules/cm/sup 3/, and therefore the technique should be particularly useful for calibration of our fluorescence instrument for OH measurements. However, the presence of atmospheric fluctuations coupled with intensity variation accompanying frequency scanning appears to degrade the detection sensitivity in outdoor ambient conditions, thus making it unlikely that this technique can be employed for direct OH monitoring.

• Research Organization: Wayne State University, Department of Physics ampersand Astronomy, Detroit, Michigan 48202
• OSTI ID: 6610153
• Journal Information: Appl. Opt.; (United States), Vol. 21:16
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY
HYDROXYL RADICALS
LASER SPECTROSCOPY
TROPOSPHERE
ABSORPTION
CALIBRATION
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DYE LASERS
FLUORESCENCE
LASER RADIATION
OPACITY
QUANTITY RATIO
SENSITIVITY
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VISIBLE RADIATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EMISSION SPECTROSCOPY
LASERS
LIQUID LASERS
LUMINESCENCE
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATIONS
RADICALS
SPECTROSCOPY
440300* - Miscellaneous Instruments- (-1989)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport- (-1989)