Feasibility study of Zeeman modulation spectrometry with a hollow capillary fiber based gas cell

Abstract

For paramagnetic gases (e.g., O2, NO, NO2, OH) Zeeman modulation spectrometry is a method for spectrometric gas sensing with extraordinary selectivity. In this Letter it is combined with a hollow capillary based gas cell, where the gas is filled in long light-guiding capillary that is placed inside a toroidal coil. Over conventional Zeeman spectrometry this has the advantage of lower power consumption at long optical path length, since several loops of the hollow capillary fiber can be placed in the coil. Compared to wavelength modulation spectrometry the advantage is insensitivity to interference by multimode propagation in the fiber and absorption by other nonparamagnetic gases, which should enhance both sensor stability and sensitivity. Experimental and theoretical results are presented, showing the feasibility of the approach.