Low power consumption lasers for next generation miniature optical spectrometers for trace gas analysis
2011
The air quality of any manned spacecraft needs to be continuously monitored in order to safeguard the health of the
crew. Air quality monitoring grows in importance as mission duration increases. Due to the small size, low power draw,
and performance reliability, semiconductor laser-based instruments are viable candidates for this purpose. Achieving a
minimum instrument size requires lasers with emission wavelength coinciding with the absorption of the fundamental
absorption lines of the target gases, which are mostly in the 3.0-5.0 μm wavelength range. In this paper we report on our
progress developing high wall plug efficiency type-I quantum-well GaSb-based diode lasers operating at room
temperatures in the spectral region near 3.0-3.5 μm and quantum cascade (QC) lasers in the 4.0-5.0 μm range. These
lasers will enable the development of miniature, low-power laser spectrometers for environmental monitoring of the
spacecraft.
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