A custom-designed gain-switched frequency comb (GSFC) source was passively coupled to a medium finesse (F ≈ 522) cavity in off-axis configuration for the detection of ammonia (14NH3) in static dry air. The absorption of ammonia was detected in the near infrared spectral region between 6604 and 6607 cm-1 using a Fourier transform detection scheme. More than 30 lines of the GSFC output (free spectral range 2.5 GHz) overlapped with the strongest ro-vibrational ammonia absorption features in that spectral region. With the cavity in off-axis configuration, an NH3 detection limit of ∼3.7 ppmv in 20 s was accomplished in a laboratory environment. The experimental performance of the prototype spectrometer was characterized; advantages, drawbacks and the potential for future applications are discussed.
Keywords: Fourier transform spectroscopy; NH3 sensing; ammonia detection; cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy; frequency comb; gain switching; near infrared (IR) range; off-axis alignment.