Virtual Instrumentation based wavelength tuning of Quantum Cascade Laser for multiple trace gas sensing application

Abstract

Virtual Instrumentation has become the foundation for modern day laboratory. This paper presents the application of Virtual Instrumentation to provide flexible, powerful and cost-effective solution in the area of trace gas detection using IR Laser absorption spectroscopy. Quantum Cascade Lasers offer wide range of tunability in mid-infrared region where most of the trace gases have their fundamental absorption peaks. Therefore precise wavelength tuning of QCL makes it possible to detect particular species of interest at very low concentration level (in the range of parts per billion). LabVIEW based monitoring and controller system for such applications discussed in this paper can prove to be a step forward in improving the speed, performance, accuracy and user-friendliness of the sensor system.