Trace double-component gas sensor in photoacoustic spectroscopy based on frequency division multiplexing

In this paper, we demonstrated a trace double-component gas detection system based on frequency division multiplexing using two-way distributed feedback laser diode (DFB-LD) as the excitation laser source. In the frequency response range of photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) cell, this detection system could detect the second harmonics of different frequencies f(0) and f(1), which were excited by the gas absorption using the two wavelengths of DFB-LD at modulation frequencies f(0)/2 and f(1)/2. Unlike previous double-component gas sensor, these two DFB-LDs connected into the both ends of PAS cell without optical fiber coupler could effectively improve the excited light intensity and simplify the system structure. This feature allowed the trace detection of double-component gas of mixed-methane (CH4) and water (H2O) vapor with a low detection limits 11.055ppm and 885ppb, respectively. Additionally, the linear responses to the gas concentration were achieved 0.9986 and 0.9997, and it exhibited potentially as an effective detection system for complex gas component.