Abstract
Researchers from the University of Central Florida and the United States Navy have invented
an optical detection system designed to identify and quantify the chemicals in
a gas mixture from a distance and in real time. The new system can provide a 3D
mapping/readout of the mixture's different chemical concentrations, volume and
location. Able to detect chemicals over a broad spectral range, the system is
also tunable and does not require cooling. Thus, it can be used under various conditions,
such as high temperatures and pressures. For example, the system could be used
to identify chemical gas leaks in submarines, spacecrafts, or the breathing
system of a pilot's air supply. The innovation is a less costly, simpler
solution to achieving such capabilities compared to current technologies, which
require customized instrumentation to detect specific chemicals.
Technical Details
The invention is a detection system for identifying and
quantifying chemicals in a gas sample and methods for making and operating the
system. It comprises a new hyperdoped semiconductor optical sensor with a laser
for photoexcitation of the gas mixture, a reference laser source, and a
processor. Other configurations may include a multi-core optical fiber that is coupled
with the photodetectors.
In one example application of the invention, a distant chemical cloud is irradiated with a modulated pump laser beam of a specific wavelength. A doped crystalline silicon carbide (SiC) photodetector receives photons emitted from the photoexcited chemicals in the cloud. Then a probe laser beam sends a modulated optical signal to the photodetector, which then provides an output signal to a second photodetector. A variety of information about the chemical compounds is extracted from the measured data of the second detector and sent to a processor, which identifies the chemicals, their volume and concentrations. The processor also provides a 3D model of the gas sample.
Benefit
Enables the detection of multiple chemicals over a broad spectral rangeRemote sensing capability eliminates the need for direct exposure to chemicalsUncooled, tunable, wireless detection at room temperature or under harsh environmentsOperates in real time without needing general instrumentation or customizationSimpler, more cost-effective fabrication processCan provide quantifying information (such as a compound's three-dimensional measurement of chemical concentration, its volume, and the location of the chemical cloud)Market Application
Military and defense systemsSpectroscopyChemical sensingBiomedicine
Brochure
