Nitrous oxide sensor

A nitrous oxide detector for detecting nitrous oxide (N2O) in ambient gas, comprising a gas sensor having:

• a measurement chamber for receiving the ambient gas to be measured;
• an optical source for emitting radiation in the measurement chamber;
• a radiation detector sensitive to radiation emitted by the optical source, the radiation being configured to be detected by the radiation detector following passage through the measurement chamber;
• and
• the radiation detector being configured to measure occurrence of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the gas being measured;
• wherein:
• the nitrous oxide detector comprises a diffusion layer, the diffusion layer being configured to allow diffusion of ambient gas into and out from the measurement chamber, the diffusion layer comprising means for preventing diffusion of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the ambient gas into the measurement chamber;
• and
• the nitrous oxide detector further being adapted to receive measurements of the occurrence of nitrous oxide (N2O) from the gas sensor and generate a signal when the measurements of the occurrence of nitrous oxide (N2O) exceed a predetermined threshold.