Laser spectroscopic techniques suitable for molecular dispersion sensing enable new applications and strategies in chemical detection. This paper discusses the current state of the art and provides an overview of recently developed chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy (CLaDS)-based techniques. CLaDS and its derivatives allow for quantitative spectroscopy of trace gases and enable new capabilities, such as extended dynamic range of concentration measurements, high immunity to photodetected intensity fluctuations, or capability of direct processing of spectroscopic signals in optical domain. Several experimental configurations based on quantum cascade lasers and examples of molecular spectroscopic data are presented to demonstrate capabilities of molecular dispersion spectroscopy in the mid-infrared spectral region.
© 2012 New York Academy of Sciences.