US 5,689,334 A · Intracavity laser spectroscope for high sensitivity detection of contaminants

Abstract

Contaminants are detected optically at concentrations below 1 part-per-million (ppm) and extending to a level approaching 1 part-per-trillion (ppt) by using intracavity laser spectroscopy (ILS) techniques. A solid-state laser with an ion-doped crystal medium contained in an optical resonator cavity (the ILS laser) is employed as a detector. A gas sample containing gaseous contaminant species is placed inside the optical resonator cavity and on one side of the ion-doped crystal. The output signal from the ILS laser is detected and analyzed to identify the gaseous species. The concentration of the gaseous species can be determined as well.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A detection system for detecting the presence of a contaminant in a sample, comprising:

a chamber suitably configured to be evacuated of contaminants to be detected in the sample, said chamber including therewithin an intracavity laser comprising a laser crystal contained within an intracavity resonator, and a sample system for containing the sample suitably placed within an astigmatically compensated region of said resonator;
a spectrometer assembly;
and
a detector assembly suitably connected to a computer system programmable to interpret the spectral resolution of said spectrometer assembly and provide an output indicative of the presence and/or concentration of contaminant in the sample.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Intracavity laser spectroscope for high sensitivity detection of contaminants

Life of this patent

Intracavity laser spectroscope for high sensitivity detection of contaminants

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7