Limit On Remote Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Detection Of Trace Gases

A. S. Zachor; B. Bartschi; M. Ahmadjian

doi:10.1117/12.932172

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29 October 1981 Limit On Remote Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Detection Of Trace Gases

A. S. Zachor, B. Bartschi, M. Ahmadjian

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Proceedings Volume 0289, 1981 Intl Conf on Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy; (1981) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.932172
Event: 1981 International Conference on Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, 1981, Columbia, United States

Abstract

We studied the capability of a Fourier spectrometer system to remotely detect trace gases in localized clouds, e.g., stationary source effluents. Detection is based on the degree to which the observed IR spectral radiance contrast between the cloud and adjacent background is correlated with a computed reference spectrum. It is shown that trace gases can be reliably detected when spectral features are well below the noise level. The minimum detectable quantities (MDQ's) for various trace gases at one atmosphere total pressure are given. The MDQ's determine the combinations of gas column thickness and gas-background temperature difference that correspond to 95 percent detection probability and one percent false detection probability when an FTS system with modest-size foreoptics views the target through a path equivalent to approximately one air mass.

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A. S. Zachor, B. Bartschi, and M. Ahmadjian "Limit On Remote Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Detection Of Trace Gases", Proc. SPIE 0289, 1981 Intl Conf on Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, (29 October 1981); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.932172

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