Patent ID: 8247775
Filing Date: 2012-08-21
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A system for the remote detection of gasses in a gas cloud, comprising: a laser system tuned to a first wavelength of interest for a first gas, said laser system adapted for illuminating from a distance the gas cloud, said laser system including a tunable laser system tunable to a plurality of wavelengths characteristic of absorption wavelengths of said first gas in a range of approximately 9 μm to 11.5 μm; said laser system tunable to a sufficient plurality of wavelengths to discriminate target gasses against interferents, said laser system illuminating the gas cloud with said plurality of wavelengths and with separate illuminations for each wavelength; a heat sensor adapted for detecting heat generated by the gas cloud when the gas cloud absorbs said first wavelength such that said first gas is at least partially detectable in the gas cloud by illuminating the gas cloud with said first wavelength and by detecting heat generated by at least said first gas with said heat sensor, said heat sensor capable of sensing transient molecular relaxation of a laser-stimulated portion of the gas cloud, said transient molecular relaxation occurring on the order of microseconds, said heat sensor capable of sensing a higher temperature in a portion of the gas cloud illuminated by said laser; and said heat sensor capable of sensing transient molecular relaxation of a laser-stimulated portion of a gas cloud for each of said separate illuminations, said separate illuminations selected from the group consisting of illuminations separated by intervals of time, illuminations sequentially transmitted in a continuous manner, and combinations thereof.