Patent ID: 8437000
Filing Date: 2013-05-07
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A gas sensor for detecting a gas of interest, the gas of interest having one or more absorption lines, the gas sensor comprising: an optical cavity for receiving the gas of interest, the optical cavity defined by one or more optical segments separating at least two minors; a first electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit a first beam of light having a first wavelength, wherein the first wavelength corresponds to one of the one or more absorption lines of the gas of interest; a second electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit a second beam of light having a second wavelength, wherein the second wavelength does not correspond to any of the one or more absorption lines of the gas of interest; wherein the at least two mirrors are configured to reflect the first beam of light and the second beam of light through the one or more optical segments of the optical cavity and the gas of interest; and a first detector configured to detect a cavity ring down time decay of the first beam of light corresponding to an absorption of the first beam of light by the gas in the optical cavity; wherein at least one of the at least two mirrors is actuatable to move the optical cavity in and out of one or more node positions that provide one or more resonance conditions in the optical cavity; and wherein at least one of the at least two mirrors that is actuatable is electrically deformable, wherein the electrically deformable minor deforms around the one or more node positions according to an applied electrical potential.