The combination of broadly tunable quantum cascade laser chips in an external cavity (EC-QCL) with a micro- electromechanical system (MEMS) scanner with integrated diffraction grating as wavelength-selective element allows for the development of extremely compact and robust spectroscopy systems. Resonant MOEMS grating scanners enable spectral tuning rates of hundreds of wavenumbers per millisecond and consequently broad-band spectroscopy with millisecond temporal resolution. Also non-resonant (quasi-static) MOEMS grating scanners are possible, providing scan rates of tens of Hz as well as static setting of arbitrary wavelengths, as common for mechanically driven EC lasers, while keeping the small MOEMS footprint, ruggedness, and low power consumption. Here, we give a progress report on the latest developments on MOEMS-based EC-QCLs made by Fraunhofer IAF and IPMS. We will highlight two of our latest developments: A non-resonant MOEMS EC-QCL version that allows arbitrary scan frequencies up to few ten Hertz, as well as static operation. Furthermore, we present the application of a resonantly driven cw-MOEMS-EC-QCL with cavity-length control to enable fast high-resolution spectroscopy over a spectral range of >100 cm-1, offering new possibilities for spectroscopy on complex gas mixtures.
Here we report our recent achievements towards a compact, portable, handheld device for contactless real-time detection and identification of explosives and hazardous substances via reflectance spectroscopy in the 7.5 μm – 10 μm spectral region. The mid-IR spectroscopic measurement principle relies on selective illumination of the target using broadly tunable external cavity quantum cascade lasers (EC-QCLs). A resonant micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS) grating enables fast wavelength tuning in the external cavity, allowing the full spectral scan to be completed in <1 ms. The diffusely backscattered light’s intensity dependence on illumination wavelength provides spectroscopic information to identify threat compounds via our spectral database, containing a large number of materials relevant in a security context. We present a handheld portable, albeit tethered, device capable of real-time identification of hazardous substances at a range of 1 m. We will outline future improvements to increase the system’s usability, such as integrated computing power, automated focusing to that allow use over a range of detection distances and spatial scanning for background subtraction.
The combination of spectral broadly tunable quantum cascade laser chips in an external cavity (EC-QCL) with a rapid scanning MOEMS grating as wavelength selective element has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Spectral tuning ranges of more than 350 cm-1 in the mid-infrared fingerprint region combined with scan frequencies of up to 1 kHz for a complete wavelength scan have enabled several new sensing applications such as contactless real time identification of chemical substances via backscattering spectroscopy. Moreover, the technological approach of a MOEMS EC-QCL allows for a dense integration of the electro optical components resulting in a footprint size for the laser source comparable to that of a matchbox. This makes the MOEMS EC-QCL especially attractive for handheld sensing systems.
In this talk we present the recent advances on the MOEMS EC-QCL technology made at Fraunhofer IAF and IPMS within the European projects MIRPHAB, Aquarius and Chequers. A detailed analysis of spectral reproducibility of consecutive scans, amplitude noise, and spectral resolution in pulsed and cw operation of the laser source is shown and several showcase applications from online process control in chemical and pharmaceutical industry such as transmission measurements on liquids and gases are discussed.
We report on mid-IR spectroscopic measurements performed with rapidly tunable external cavity quantum cascade lasers (EC-QCLs). Fast wavelength tuning in the external cavity is realized by a microoptoelectromechanical systems (MOEMS) grating oscillating at a resonance frequency of about 1 kHz with a deflection amplitude of up to 10 deg. The entire spectral range of the broadband QCL can therefore be covered in just 500 μs, paving the way for real-time spectroscopy in the mid-IR region. In addition to its use in spectroscopic measurements conducted in backscattering and transmission geometry, the MOEMS-based laser source is characterized regarding pulse intensity noise, wavelength reproducibility, and spectral resolution.
Reliable standoff detection of traces of explosives is still a challenging task. Imaging MIR backscattering spectroscopy has been shown to be a promising technique for non-contact detection of traces of explosives on various surfaces. This technique, which is eye-safe, relies on active imaging with MIR laser illumination at various wavelengths. Recording the backscattered light with a MIR camera at each illumination wavelength, the MIR backscattering spectrum can be extracted from the three-dimensional data set recorded for each point within the laser illuminated area. Applying appropriate image analysis algorithms to this hyper-spectral data set, chemically sensitive and selective images of the surface of almost any object can be generated. This way, residues of explosives can be clearly identified on the basis of characteristic finger print backscattering spectra and separated from the corresponding spectra of the underlying material. To achieve a high selectivity, a large spectral coverage is a key requirement. Using a MIR EC-QCL with a tuning range from 7.5 μm to 9.5 μm, different explosives such as TNT, PETN and RDX residing on different background materials, such as painted metal sheets, cloth and polyamide, could be clearly detected and identified. For short stand-off detection distances (<3 m), residues of explosives at an amount of just a few 10 μg, i .e. traces corresponding to a single fingerprint, could be detected. For larger concentration of explosives, stand-off detection over distances of up to 20 m has already been demonstrated. During the European FP7 projects EMPHASIS and HYPERION several field tests were performed at the test site of FOI in Sweden. During these tests realistic scenarios were established comprising test detonations of IEDs. We could demonstrate the potential of QCL-based imaging backscattering spectroscopy for the detection of trace amounts of hazardous substances in such scenarios.
In this contribution, we report on real-time mid-IR spectroscopy enabled by rapidly tunable External Cavity Quantum Cascade Lasers (EC-QCLs). High speed spectral scanning in a Littrow-type resonator is realized by employing a resonantly driven micro-opto-electro-mechanical-systems (MOEMS) grating as wavelength selective element. Oscillating at a frequency of 1 kHz with mechanical amplitudes of up to 10°, the MOEMS grating is able to cover the whole spectral range provided even by broad-gain QCL chips in just 500 μs. In addition to the high spectral scanning frequency, the MOEMS approach also allows for a miniaturized and rugged design of the EC-QCL. An evaluation of this laser source with regard to spectral reproducibility of consecutive scans, pulse intensity noise, and spectral resolution will be given. Furthermore, we present spectroscopic measurements in backscattering as well as in transmission geometry, demonstrating the real-time capability in different scenarios.
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