Mid-infrared methane detection in a photonic bandgap fiber using a broadband optical parametric oscillator

Opt Express. 2007 Sep 3;15(18):11219-24. doi: 10.1364/oe.15.011219.

Abstract

We demonstrate methane sensing using a photonic bandgap fiber-based gas cell and broadband idler pulses from a periodically-poled lithium niobate femtosecond optical parametric oscillator. The hollow core of the fiber was filled with a methane:nitrogen mixture, and Fourier transform spectroscopy was used to measure transmission spectra in the 3.15-3.35 mum methane absorption region. The method has applications in gas sensing for remote or hazardous environments and potentially at very low concentrations.