Patent ID: 7612885
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: G01J,G01N

Abstract:
1. A spectrometer apparatus comprising: a cavity comprising at least two mirrors arranged to provide a continuous light path in said cavity; a source for providing electromagnetic radiation into said optical cavity; a detector for monitoring the amount of radiation in said cavity and generating a first detection signal based thereon; an absorbent medium in fluid communication with said cavity, said medium being absorbent of at least a first particular gas under a first environmental condition and being desorbent of said particular gas under a second environmental condition; a means for controlling the environment of said medium between the first environmental condition and the second environmental condition; a processor adapted to control said apparatus to (a) control an environment of said medium to expose said medium to a sample gas while under the first environmental condition, (b) subsequently switch said environment to said second environmental condition to cause said medium to desorb, (c) cause said source to provide electromagnetic radiation into said cavity during or after said medium desorbs, (d) subsequently turn off said source, and (e) subsequently measure the decay of the electromagnetic radiation in the cavity during the third period of time.