NSF Award
8760819
This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfield of spectroscopy. The goal of this research activity is to determine the feasibility of developing a chemical species monitor which exhibits species selectivity and a broad dynamic range. The device incorporates frequency tunable gallium arsenide semiconductor lasers which enable selection of species specific molecular absorption features. Phase sensitive detection permits "locking" of the laser radiation to the frequency of the absorption while wavelength modulation enables quantification of the analyte species of interest. The use of fiber optics makes this spectrometer applicable to remote sensing. Success in this Phase I activity could lead to the development of a device with potentially widespread application to monitoring and control of chemical processes in both laboratory experiments and industrial processes where selective, remote sensing of broad ranges of concentrations of chemical species, especially low levels, is required.
