Continuous-wave Cavity Ringdown Research Articles

Continuous-wave cavity ringdown for high-sensitivity polarimetry and magnetometry measurements.

We report the development of a novel variant of cavity ringdown polarimetry using a continuous-wave laser operating at 532nm for highly precise chiroptical activity and magnetometry measurements. The key methodology of the apparatus relies upon the external modulation of the laser frequency at the frequency splitting between non-degenerate left- and right-circularly polarized cavity modes. The method is demonstrated by the evaluation of the Verdet constants of crystalline CeF3 and fused silica, in addition to the observation of gas- and solution-phase optical rotations of selected chiral molecules. Specifically, optical rotations of (i) vapors of α-pinene and R-(+)-limonene, (ii) mutarotating D-glucose in water, and (iii) acidified L-histidine solutions are determined. The detection sensitivities for the gas- and solution-phase chiral activity measurements are ∼30 and ∼120μdeg over a 30s detection period per cavity round trip pass, respectively. Furthermore, the measured optical rotations for R-(+)-limonene are compared with computations performed using the TURBOMOLE quantum chemistry package. The experimentally observed optically rotatory dispersion of this cyclic monoterpene was thus rationalized via a consideration of its room temperature conformer distribution as determined by the aforementioned single-point energy calculations.

Continuous wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy incorporating with an off-axis arrangement, white noise perturbation, and optical re-injection

We present an ultra-sensitive continuous wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (cw-CRDS) spectrometer to record high resolution spectra of reactive radicals and ions in a pulsed supersonic plasma. The spectrometer employs a home-made external cavity diode laser as the tunable light source, with its wavelength modulated by radio-frequency white noise. The ringdown cavity with a finesse of ∼105 is arranged with an off-axis alignment. The combination of the off-axis cavity and the white-noise perturbed laser yields quasi-continuum laser-cavity coupling without the need of mode matching. The cavity is further incorporated with an extra multi-pass cavity for optical re-injection of light reflected off the master cavity, which significantly increases the throughput power of the high-finesse cavity. A fast switchable semiconductor optical amplifier is used to modulate the cw laser beam to square wave pulses and to initialize timing controlled ringdown events, which are synchronized to the plasma pulses with an accuracy of ∼3 µs. The performance and potential of the cw-CRDS spectrometer are illustrated and discussed, based on the high resolution near-infrared spectroscopic detection of trace 13C13C radicals generated in a pulsed supersonic C2H2/Ar plasma with a pulse duration of ∼50 µs.

Understanding the high-resolution spectral signature of the N2-H2O van der Waals complex in the 2OH stretch region.

We present the observation of the N2-H2O van der Waals complex in the 2OH stretch overtone region. The high-resolution jet cooled spectra were measured using a sensitive continuous wave cavity ringdown spectrometer. Several bands were observed and vibrationally assigned in terms of ν1, ν2, and ν3, the vibrational quantum numbers of the isolated H2O molecule, as (ν1'ν2'ν3')←(ν1″ν2″ν3″)=(200)←(000) and (101) ← (000). A combination band involving the excitation of the in-plane bending motion of N2 and the (101) vibration of water is also reported. The spectra were analyzed using a set of four asymmetric top rotors, each associated with a nuclear spin isomer. Several local perturbations of the (101) vibrational state were observed. These perturbations were assigned to the presence of the nearby (200) vibrational state and to the combination of (200) with intermolecular modes.

Development of an in situ analysis system for methane dissolved in seawater based on cavity ringdown spectroscopy.

This paper reports the development of a compact in situ real-time concentration analysis system for methane dissolved in seawater by using a continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) technique. The miniaturized design of the system, including optical resonance cavity and control and data acquisition-analysis electronics, has a cylindrical dimension of 550 mm in length and 100 mm in diameter. Ringdown signal generation, data acquisition and storage, current driver, and temperature controller of the diode laser are all integrated in the miniaturized system circuits, with an electrical power consumption of less than 12 W. Fitting algorithms of the ringdown signal and spectral line are implemented in a digital signal processor, which is the main control chip of the system circuit. The detection sensitivity for methane concentration can reach 0.4 ppbv with an approximate averaging time of 240 s (or 4 min). Comparing the system's measurement of ambient air against a high-quality commercial CRDS instrument has demonstrated a good agreement in results. In addition, as a "proof of concept" for measuring dissolved methane, the developed instrument was tested in an actual underwater environment. The results showed the potential of this miniaturized portable instrument for in situ gas sensing applications.

Random vibration-driven continuous-wave CRDS system for calibration-free gas concentration measurement.

Random vibrations were employed to pick up each monochromatic component in a continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CRDS) system using a bichromatic laser source. Light frequencies were selected within flat portions of an absorption profile to suppress the jitter in laser frequency during measurements. An interference effect caused by cavity length variations was suppressed by optimizing the initial fit point for each ringdown transient. The difference in exponential decay rates of two frequencies determined the gas mole fraction, and no calibration of empty cavity losses was necessary. Experiments on varying humidity were conducted, and the results agreed with the readings of a commercial hygrometer.

A Wide-Range and Calibration-Free Spectrometer Which Combines Wavelength Modulation and Direct Absorption Spectroscopy with Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy.

A wide-range, calibration-free tunable diode laser spectrometer is established by combining wavelength modulation and direct absorption spectroscopy (WM-DAS) with continuous wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CW-CRDS). This spectrometer combines the benefits of absolute concentration measurements, wide range, and high speed, using WM-DAS with enhanced noise reduction in CW-CRDS. The accurate baseline ringdown time, τ0, is calculated by the absorption peak (measured by WM-DAS) and the ringdown time containing gas absorption information (measured by CW-CRDS at the center wavelength of the spectral line). The gas concentration is obtained without measuring τ0 in real time, thus, greatly improving the measuring speed. A WM-DAS/CW-CRDS spectrometer at 1.57 μm for CO detection was assembled for experimental validation of the multiplexing scheme over a concentration ranging from 4 ppm to 1.09% (0.1 MPa, 298 K). The measured concentration of CO at 6374.406 cm−1 shows that the dynamic range of this tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer is extendable up to five orders of magnitude and the corresponding precision is improved. The measurement speed of this spectrometer can extend up to 10 ms, and the detection limit can reach 35 ppb within 25 s.

Influence of Spatial Inhomogeneity of Detector Temporal Responses on the Spectral Fidelity in Continuous Wave Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy.

Due to their advantages of having a wide bandwidth, low cost, and being easy to obtain, traditional photodetectors (PDs) are being widely applied in measurements of transient signals. The spatial inhomogeneity of such PD temporal responses was measured directly to account for the PD spatial effect of decay rate due to poor alignment in continuous wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CW-CRDS) experiments. Based on the measurements of three PDs (i.e., model 1611 (Newport), model 1811 (Newport), and model PDA10CF-EC (Thorlabs)), all the temporal responses followed a tendency of declining first and then rising, and steady platforms existed for the last two PDs. Moreover, as we expected, the closer the PD center was, the faster the response. On the other hand, the initial shut-off amplitude generally reached a larger value for a faster temporal response. As a result, the spatial effect can strongly influence the spectral line shape and value, which will introduce more errors into the precise measurements of spectral parameters using the CRDS technique if this effect is not considered. The defined effective detection area (EDA) of the PDs, which was close to the active area given by manufacturers, was the key parameter that should be paid more attention by researchers. Therefore, the PD should be aligned perfectly to make sure that the EDA covers the laser spot completely.

Multichannel continuous-wave fiber cavity ringdown gas sensing utilizing frequency-shifted interferometry.

We present a multichannel continuous-wave (CW) fiber cavity ringdown (FCRD) gas sensing method based on frequency-shifted interferometry (FSI). This scheme detects gas concentration by measuring the intensity decay rates of continuous light from different ringdown cavities in the spatial domain, unlike conventional FCRD techniques, which measure the decay rates of pulse light in the time domain. This method shares one CW light source, one slow detector, and one slow data collector. In order to illustrate the theory, acetylene gas concentration measurement in a two-channel FSI-FCRD system was experimentally conducted in the range of 0%-1%. A linear relation was established between concentration and absorption loss, which is proportional to the intensity decay rate, and the measurement resolutions of 3.871%/dB and 3.658%/dB were achieved, respectively. The results reveal that the proposed system has the advantages of low cost, high sensitivity, high precision, and good stability in multichannel gas detection.

Continuous-Wave Fiber Cavity Ringdown Pressure Sensing Based on Frequency-Shifted Interferometry.

We present a continuous-wave fiber cavity ringdown (FCRD) pressure-sensing method based on frequency-shifted interferometry (FSI). Compared with traditional CRD or FCRD techniques, this FSI-FCRD scheme deduces pressure by measuring the decay rate of continuous light exiting the fiber ringdown cavity (RDC) in the spatial domain (i.e., the CRD distance), without the requirement for optical pulsation and fast electronics. By using a section of fiber with the buffer layer stripped in the fiber RDC as the sensor head, pressures were measured within the range from 0 to 10.4 MPa. The sensitivity of 0.02356/(km∙MPa) was obtained with a measurement error of 0.1%, and the corresponding pressure resolution was 0.05 MPa. It was found that the measurement sensitivity can be improved by enlarging the interaction length of the sensor head. The results show the proposed sensor has the advantages of simple structure, low cost, high sensitivity, and high stability in pressure detection.

Quantitative Mid-Infrared Cavity Ringdown Detection of Methyl Iodide for Monitoring Applications.

Methyl iodide is a toxic halocarbon with diverse industrial and agricultural applications, and it is an important ocean-derived trace gas that contributes to the iodine burden of the atmosphere. Quantitative analysis of CH3I is mostly based on gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry or electron capture detection (GC-MS/ECD) as of yet, which often limits the ability to conduct in situ high-frequency monitoring studies. This work presents an alternative detection scheme based on mid-infrared continuous wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (mid-IR cw-CRDS). CH3I was detected at the RR2(15) rovibrational absorption transition at ṽ = 3090.4289 cm-1; part of the corresponding v4 vibration band has been measured with Doppler-limited resolution for the first time. A line strength of S(T = 295 K) = (545 ± 20) cm/mol, corresponding to a line center absorption cross-section σc(p = 0 bar) = (1.60 ± 0.06) × 105 cm2/mol, and pressure-broadening coefficients γp(Ar) = (0.094 ± 0.002) cm-1/bar and γp(N2) = (0.112 ± 0.003) cm-1/bar have been determined. The performance of the detection system has been demonstrated with a tank-purging experiment and has been directly compared with a conventional GC-MS/ECD detection system. Quantitative detection with high reproducibility and continuous sampling is possible with a current noise-equivalent limit of detection of 15 ppb at 20 mbar absorption-cell pressure and 70 s averaging time. This limit of detection is suitable for practical applications in the ppm mixing ratio level range such as workplace monitoring, leak detection, and process studies. Natural environmental abundances are much lower, therefore possibilities for future improvement of the detection limit are discussed.

Doppler-limited high-resolution spectrum and VPT2 assisted assignment of the C-H stretch of CH2Br2

The Doppler limited non-saturated rotationally resolved infrared spectra of the symmetric and asymmetric CH-stretch bands of CH2Br2 have been measured. A continuous wave cavity ringdown setup with a widely tunable Mid-IR-OPO laser light source yielded a single-shot minimum absorption of 4.9×10−8cm−1. In contrast to the heavily congested ν1 band, the ν6 band showed partially resolved rotational features that may serve as suitable absorption targets in future environmental detection schemes for CH2Br2. A straightforward, VPT2 (second-order vibrational perturbation theory) assisted quantum-chemical approach for assigning the rotational structure has been tested using different model chemistries. The molecular structures, anharmonic frequencies and the structural changes upon vibrational excitation of CH2Br2 have been investigated. The predicted changes of the anharmonic rotational constants have been used together with available spectroscopic ground state constants to simulate the rovibrational structures of the ν1 and ν6 bands of CH2Br2. A refined analysis of the ν6 band is presented yielding accurate values for the band origin and the rotational constants. A fit of the line positions of 312 prominent transitions of the three isotopologues revealed a low standard error of 0.00056cm−1, hence within the absolute 0.0009cm−1 wavelength accuracy of the used spectrometer setup. A combined analysis of the predicted line strengths and positions of the strong Q sub-branches of the ν6 band has been performed to test the ability of the different density functionals for VPT2 prediction of anharmonic molecular constants. The M06/6-311++G(d,p) model chemistry turned out to yield reliable state-dependent rotational constants that are accurate enough to reproduce the overall rotational structure even without fitting.

Preliminary investigation into feasibility of dissolved methane measurement using cavity ringdown spectroscopy technique

For the exploration of gas hydrate resources by measuring the dissolved methane concentration in seawater, a continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy (CW-CRDS) experimental setup was constructed for trace methane detection. A current-modulation method, rather than a cavity-modulation method using an optical switch and a piezoelectric transducer, was employed to realize the cavity excitation and shutoff. Such a current-modulation method enabled the improvement of the experimental setup construction and stability, and the system size and stability are critical for a sensor to be deployed underwater. Ringdown data acquisition and processing were performed, followed by an evaluation of the experimental setup stability and sensitivity. The obtained results demonstrate that great errors are introduced when a large fitting window is selected if the analog-to-digital converter has an insufficient resolution. The ringdown spectrum of methane corresponding to the 2v3 band R(4) branch was captured, and the methane concentration in lab air was determined to be 2.06 ppm. Further experiments for evaluating the quantitative ability of this CW-CRDS experimental setup are underway from which a high-sensitivity methane sensor that can be combined with a degassing system is expected.

Research and data processing of double locked cavity ringdown absorption spectroscopy

A continuous wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy based on a double-locking loop is proposed to improve the shortcoming of low acquisition rate of concentration in traditional scheme. A small portion of laser is separated to pass through a C2H2 reference cell, used to lock the laser frequency to the 1+3 band P(9)e absorption line of C2H2 at 6534.3634 cm-1 by the 1st harmonic demodulation of the frequency modulation spectroscopy. The remaining portion is incident on a high finesses cavity to observe the ringdown events. Meanwhile, the reflected light of cavity is used to extract the error signal to lock the laser based on the PDH frequency locking technique. As a consequence, the frequency drift of the laser and the jitter of the cavity length are improved, therefore a more relatively accuracy result is expected. The laser light is dual frequency modulated by a fiber coupled electro optic modulator (FEOM)in the above system. In order to optimize, to some extent, the asymmetry of the error signal caused by the residual amplitude modulation due to the inconsistency of the laser polarization direction with the extraordinary axis of the FEOM, the demodulation phase is adjusted carefully until the error signal is smoothed up and close to symmetry. Then, the effect of locking loop is examined. The frequency of laser, based on the measurement by a wavelength meter, is more stable and the relative frequency discrimination between the laser and the longitudinal mode of cavity is about 9.8 kHz. In addition, the PDH locking, ensuring the efficient coupling of the laser with the cavity, can gain a high acquisition rate of the concentration information. In order to obtain a complete ringdown event, the frequency of square wave to the fiber coupled acoustic optical modulator (FAOM) is limited to 30 kHz with the duty cycle of 85%, which is determined by the ringdown time and re-lock time. However, there exists a relatively large random noise in a series of ringdown time measurements of empty cavity, which is mainly caused by the errors of fitting and measurement. For the further improvement of the accuracy of experiment, an efficient digital filter, Kalman filter which can suppress the noise considerably at no expense of real-time capability, is used. The standard deviation of the ringdown time is reduced from 0.00333 to 0.00153. According to Allan variance analysis, the detection limit can reach 410-9 cm-1 for a 2 s integration time. Finally, the C2H2 gases with different concentrations from 100 ppb to 5 ppm are measured to demonstrate the linear response of this system.

High sensitivity cavity ring down spectroscopy of the 3ν1+3ν2+ν3 band of NO2 near 7587 cm−1

The very weak 3ν1+3ν2+ν3 absorption band of the main isotopologue of nitrogen dioxide, 14N16O2, is investigated for the first time near 7587cm−1. The absorption spectrum was recorded by high sensitivity Continuous Wave-Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy with a noise equivalent absorption of αmin≈1×10−10cm−1. 414 lines of the 3ν1+3ν2+ν3 band were assigned with rotational quantum numbers N and Ka as high as 32 and 6, respectively, what corresponds to 518 rotation–vibration transitions. The overall set of spin–rotation energy levels was modeled in the frame of the effective Hamiltonian approach and reproduced with an RMS of 6×10−3cm−1 for the (obs.–calc.) deviations. The effective Hamiltonian includes interactions with three nearby dark states – (350), (062) and (312) – in Coriolis interaction with the (331) bright state. Using a selected set of experimental line intensities and the fitted values of the vibration–rotation Hamiltonian parameters, the principal parameter in the dipole moment operator expansion is determined for the 3ν1+3ν2+ν3 band. With maximum line intensity on the order of 2.5×10−27cm/molecule at 296K, the 3ν1+3ν2+ν3 band is the weakest band of the NO2 molecule rovibrationnally assigned so far.

Photodissociation resonances of jet-cooled NO2 at the dissociation threshold by CW-CRDS.

Around 398 nm, the jet-cooled-spectrum of NO2 exhibits a well identified dissociation threshold (D0). Combining the continuous-wave absorption-based cavity ringdown spectroscopy technique and laser induced fluorescence detection, an energy range of ∼25 cm(-1) is analyzed at high resolution around D0. In addition to the usual molecular transitions to long-lived energy levels, ∼115 wider resonances are observed. The position, amplitude, and width of these resonances are determined. The resonance width spreads from ∼0.006 cm(-1) (i.e., ∼450 ps) to ∼0.7 cm(-1) (∼4 ps) with large fluctuations. The identification of at least two ranges of resonance width versus the excess energy can be associated with the opening of the dissociation channels NO2→NO(X(2)Π1/2, v=0, J=1/2+O((3)P2) and NO2→NO(X(2)Π1/2, v=0, J=3/2)+O((3)P2). This analysis corroborates the existence of loose transition states close to the dissociation threshold as reported previously and in agreement with the phase space theory predictions as shown by Tsuchiya's group [Miyawaki et al., J. Chem. Phys. 99, 254-264 (1993)]. The data are analyzed in the light of previously reported frequency- and time-resolved data to provide a robust determination of averaged unimolecular dissociation rate coefficients. The density of reactant levels deduced (ρreac ∼ 11levels/cm(-1)) is discussed versus the density of transitions, the density of resonances, and the density of vibronic levels.

The absorption spectrum of water vapor in the 1.25 μm atmospheric window (7911–8337 cm−1)

The absorption spectrum of water vapor in “natural” isotopic abundance has been recorded at room temperature by high sensitivity Continuous Wave Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CW-CRDS) between 7911 and 8337cm−1. The investigated region covers most of the 1.25µm transparency window of importance for atmospheric applications. The recordings were performed with sensitivity on the order of αmin~2×10–11cm−1, more than two orders of magnitude better than previous investigations by Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTS). Measured line intensities cover a range of seven orders of magnitude (3×10–30–2×10–23cm/molecule at room temperature). The experimental line list provided as Supplementary Material includes more than 5000 transitions. As a result of the achieved sensitivity, more than 1150 lines of the experimental list were identified as being due to ammonia present as an impurity at the 5ppm concentration level in the water sample. Although incomplete, the obtained ammonia line list seems to be the first one in the region. More than 3193 water lines were assigned to 3560 transitions of five water isotopologues (H216O, H218O, H217O, HD16O and HD18O). The assignments were performed using known experimental energy levels and calculated spectra based on variational calculations by Schwenke and Partridge. The obtained results are compared to the most relevant previous studies by Fourier Transform Spectroscopy in the region and to the exhaustive review of rovibrational line positions and levels performed recently by an IUPAC sponsored task group. Two-hundred and sixty-six levels are newly determined and 46 are corrected by more than 0.015cm−1 compared to those recommended by the water IUPAC task group. The overall agreement between variational and measured intensities is satisfactory.A complete empirical list of 4473 transitions incorporating all the experimental information at disposal was constructed for water in the studied region. The intensity cut-off was fixed to 1×10–29cm/molecule at 296K. A detailed comparison with the line list as provided by the HITRAN database illustrates the advantages of the new list.

Optical injection unlocking for cavity ringdown spectroscopy

Continuous wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy requires a rapid termination of the injection of light into the cavity to initiate the decay (i.e., ringdown) event. We demonstrate a technique that accomplishes this through pulsed optical injection of a second laser into the main laser, resulting in 20-100 MHz frequency shifts in the otherwise cavity-locked main laser sufficient to create ringdown events at 3.5 kHz. Data on the frequency shift as a function of both main laser current and relative wavelength are presented, as well as a demonstration that single exponential decays are maintained in the process.

Photolysis of CH₃CHO at 248 nm: evidence of triple fragmentation from primary quantum yield of CH₃ and HCO radicals and H atoms.

Radical quantum yields have been measured following the 248 nm photolysis of acetaldehyde, CH3CHO. HCO radical and H atom yields have been quantified by time resolved continuous wave Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy in the near infrared following their conversion to HO2 radicals by reaction with O2. The CH3 radical yield has been determined using the same technique following their conversion into CH3O2. Absolute yields have been deduced for HCO radicals and H atoms through fitting of time resolved HO2 profiles, obtained under various O2 concentrations, to a complex model, while the CH3 yield has been determined relative to the CH3 yield from 248 nm photolysis of CH3I. Time resolved HO2 profiles under very low O2 concentrations suggest that another unknown HO2 forming reaction path exists in this reaction system besides the conversion of HCO radicals and H atoms by reaction with O2. HO2 profiles can be well reproduced under a large range of experimental conditions with the following quantum yields: CH3CHO + hν(248nm) → CH3CHO*, CH3CHO* → CH3 + HCO ϕ(1a) = 0.125 ± 0.03, CH3CHO* → CH3 + H + CO ϕ(1e) = 0.205 ± 0.04, CH3CHO*[Formula: see text]CH3CO + HO2 ϕ(1f) = 0.07 ± 0.01. The CH3O2 quantum yield has been determined in separate experiments as ϕ(CH₃) = 0.33 ± 0.03 and is in excellent agreement with the CH3 yields derived from the HO2 measurements considering that the triple fragmentation (R1e) is an important reaction path in the 248 nm photolysis of CH3CHO. From arithmetic considerations taking into account the HO2 and CH3 measurements we deduce a remaining quantum yield for the molecular pathway: CH3CHO* → CH4 + CO ϕ(1b) = 0.6. All experiments can be consistently explained with absence of the formerly considered pathway: CH3CHO* → CH3CO + H ϕ(1c) = 0.

An accurate and complete empirical line list for water vapor between 5850 and 7920 cm−1

An empirical line list has been constructed for “natural” water vapor at 296K in the 5850–7920cm−1 region. It was obtained by gathering separate line lists recently published on the basis of spectra recorded by high sensitivity Continuous Wave Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy (CW-CRDS) of natural water, complemented with literature data for the strongest lines. The list includes 38,318 transitions of four major water isotopologues (H216O, H218O, H217O and HD16O) with an intensity cut-off of 1×10−29cm/molecule at 296K. The list is made mostly complete over the whole spectral region by including a large number of weak lines with positions calculated using experimentally determined energy levels and intensities obtained from variational calculations. In addition, we provide HD18O and HD17O lists in the same region for transitions with intensities larger than 1×10−29cm/molecule. The HD18O and HD17O lists (1972 lines in total) were obtained using empirical energy levels available in the literature and variational intensities.The global list (40,290 transitions) for water including the contribution of the six major isotopologues will be adopted for the next edition of the GEISA database in the region.The advantages and drawbacks of our list are discussed in comparison with the list provided for the same region in the 2012 edition of the HITRAN database. The direct comparison of the CRDS spectra to simulations based on the HITRAN list has revealed some insufficiencies which could easily be corrected: missing HDO lines, duplicated lines, inaccurate line positions or line intensities from variational calculations.

Continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectroscopy based on the control of cavity reflection

A new type of continuous-wave cavity ringdown spectrometer based on the control of cavity reflection for trace gas detection was designed and evaluated. The technique separated the acquisitions of the ringdown event and the trigger signal to optical switch by detecting the cavity reflection and transmission, respectively. A detailed description of the time sequence of the measurement process was presented. In order to avoid the wrong extraction of ringdown time encountered accidentally in fitting procedure, the laser frequency and cavity length were scanned synchronously. Based on the statistical analysis of measured ringdown times, the frequency normalized minimum detectable absorption in the reflection control mode was 1.7 × 10(-9)cm(-1)Hz(-1/2), which was 5.4 times smaller than that in the transmission control mode. However the signal-to-noise ratio of the absorption spectrum was only 3 times improved since the etalon effect existed. Finally, the peak absorption coefficients of the C(2)H(2) transition near 1530.9nm under different pressures showed a good agreement with the theoretical values.