Infrared Spectroscopy with a Cavity Ring-Down 

Spectrometer

by Logan S Marcus, Ellen L Holthoff, and Paul M Pellegrino

ARL-TR-7031 August 2014

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Army Research Laboratory

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ARL-TR-7031 August 2014

Infrared Spectroscopy with a Cavity Ring-Down 

Spectrometer

Logan S Marcus, Ellen L Holthoff, and Paul M Pellegrino

Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate, ARL

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.
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Infrared Spectroscopy with a Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer

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14. ABSTRACT

There is a pressing need for airborne hazard detectors for both Army and civilian use. Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) 

is a capable and sensitive detection method for hazardous materials that is based on the principles of electromagnetic radiation 

spectroscopy. Research has been ongoing at the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) to evaluate the sensitivity and 

limitations of two commercial CRDSs. These devices were manufactured by Los Gatos Research, Inc., and provided to ARL 

via collaboration with the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC). Evaluation of the spectrometers comprises

background noise determination, spectroscopic confirmation, and limit of detection testing. At each step, the CRDSs proved to 

be accurate and sensitive apparatus.

15. SUBJECT TERMS

Cavity ring down, infrared spectroscopy, hazard detection, ammonia, 1,4-dioxane

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Logan S Marcus

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iii

Contents

List of Figures iv

Acknowledgments v

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Hazard Detection.............................................................................................................1

1.2 Origins.............................................................................................................................1

1.3 Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer....................................................................................2

2. Experimental Setup 5

2.1 Device..............................................................................................................................5

2.2 Laboratory Setup .............................................................................................................6

2.3 Computer Control and Data Analysis .............................................................................7

3. Experimental Results 8

3.1 Nitrogen...........................................................................................................................8

3.2 Ammonia.........................................................................................................................9

3.3 1,4-Dioxane ...................................................................................................................13

4. Literature Comparison 17

4.1 Public Databases............................................................................................................17

4.2 Ammonia.......................................................................................................................17

4.3 1,4-Dioxane ...................................................................................................................21

4.4 ARL Experimental Data Comparison ...........................................................................25

5. Conclusions 27

6. References 29

List of Symbols, Abbreviations, and Acronyms 31

Distribution List 33
iv

List of Figures

Fig. 1 Diagram of the exponential decay of the PMT response as a function of time for a 

theoretical CRDS experiment2...................................................................................................4

Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of the CRDS system under investigation. The schematic is not to 

scale and omits several components for clarity and visibility.10................................................5

Fig. 3 Photograph of the inside of the CRDS system. The laser head is the blue and white 

box on the far left of the device. The detector is the red cylinder with a gold top in the 

upper right-hand corner. The cavity is the orange wrapped cylinder at the top of the unit. 

Other major components are the laser controller underneath the data acquisition hardware 

on the bottom right, and the computer in front and in the middle. ............................................6

Fig. 4 Plot of measured loss vs. excitation laser wavelength for nitrogen. This plot details 

the background signal measured by the spectrometer because nitrogen gas has no infrared 

absorption in the studied wavenumber range. The background is a combination of the 

variations in excitation laser power and other experimental factors..........................................9

Fig. 5 Plot of measured loss vs. excitation laser wavelength for the ammonia gas sample ........10

Fig. 6 Plot of measured loss vs. excitation wavenumber for 10 ammonia concentrations..........11

Fig. 7 Plot of measured ammonia absorption vs. concentration at one of the absorption 

maxima (930 cm–1) .................................................................................................................12

Fig. 8 Plot of loss vs. wavenumber for highest used concentration of 1,4-dioxane ....................14

Fig. 9 Measured loss vs. excitation wavenumber for multiple 1,4-dioxane concentrations........15

Fig. 10 Measured loss vs. 1,4-dioxane concentration..................................................................16

Fig. 11 Ammonia spectrum from PNNL .....................................................................................18

Fig.12 Comparison between CRDS (blue) and PNNL (red) absorption spectra for ammonia....19

Fig. 13 Comparison of ammonia spectra from NIST (top) and CRDS (bottom). The letters A 

though H denote spectral features used for comparison between the four spectra..................20

Fig. 14 1,4-dioxane spectrum from PNNL ..................................................................................22

Fig. 15 Comparison between PNNL (blue) and CRDS (red) spectra for 1,4-dioxane ................23

Fig. 16 Comparison between NIST reference data (top) and CRDS experimental data 

(bottom). The two spectra in the top plot have different data sources and sensitivities. .........24

Fig. 17 Comparison of the three spectroscopic methods. The two CRDS spectra (green and 

black) are compared to FTIR (red) and PAS (blue).................................................................26
v

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Alan Samuels and Erin Davis from the US Army Edgewood Chemical 

Biological Center (ECBC) for providing the spectrometers and other technical advice during this 

investigation. 

This work was supported in part by an appointment to the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) 

Postdoctoral Fellowship Program administered by the Oak Ridge Associated Universities 

(ORAU) through a contract with ARL.
vi

INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
1

1. Introduction

1.1 Hazard Detection

The Army’s constant need for hazardous chemical safety drives critical research into the 

detection of airborne threats. Various electromagnetic radiation spectroscopy methods have 

proven to be well suited to the task of detecting trace amounts of battlefield-relevant threats.1–3

These methodologies rely on the fact that each chemical species has a unique absorption 

response when exposed to monochromatic light. Each spectroscopic method involves the 

absorption of radiation and the measurement of the resultant system change.

In photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), the resultant system change measured is a pressure wave 

generated by modulating the excitation source.1Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) 

measures the transmission of the excitation source and then calculates the absorption from that 

measured transmission.3 Cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) measures the decay of a single 

laser pulse between two highly reflective mirrors.2The pulse decay as a function of time is 

relatable to the absorption coefficient of whatever gaseous medium the laser pulse traverses 

between the mirrors.2 Once absorption is determined through the desired measurement 

technique, the identification of the analyte is a matter of matching spectral features.4

1.2 Origins

In laser absorption spectroscopy for dilute gases in the limit of weak absorption, there is a linear 

relationship between the measured signal and the path length traveled by an excitation source.5

Maximization of weak signals is, and was, the goal of much spectroscopic research as the 

identification of trace constituents of various samples provides a wealth of information. 

Hazardous chemical detection also values signal maximization for improved limits of detection. 

Earlier techniques used a multipass optical cell to increase the interaction path length of the 

analyte and the excitation source from the physical size of the sample chamber to a virtual size 

on the order of several hundred meters.5This is labeled a virtual increase in sample interaction 

length, because the excitation source travels a virtual length, bouncing between two highly 

reflective mirrors, beyond the capacity of the actual chamber. 

It was with signal maximization in mind that CRDS emerged from techniques developed to 

measure the reflectivity of mirrors.2 CRDS improved the sensitivity of the preceding multipass 

techniques by using tunable pulsed lasers as the excitation source.5The mirrors at either end of 

the chamber transmit a known fraction of the pulsed beam. Increases in sensitivity are

accomplished by measuring the time rate of change of the intensity of the fraction of light that is 

transmitted through the highly reflective mirrors that terminate each end of the chamber.5The 

sensitivity of this measurement technique increases as sample absorption decreases, leading to 

higher sensitivity at the lower analyte concentrations.

5

The general principles on the construction 
2

of a CRDS were developed in the late 1980s, but their modern counterparts have stayed close to 

the original design.6,7

1.3 Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer

As with other spectroscopic methodologies, a CRDS is constructed from three key components:

a sample chamber, an excitation source, and a detection device. For CRDS, the sample chamber 

does more than hold the gaseous sample under investigation. The chamber is a cylindrical cavity 

that is capped at both ends by highly reflective mirrors that allow for a pulse of light to bounce 

back and forth so often that a 1-m length of cavity can simulate a cavity on the order of 10 km

long. The interaction path length is one of the most important features of the method; path length 

being directly related to sensitivity. The simulated length of the CRDS cavity is calculated by 

multiplying twice the cavity length by the number of round trips, n, before the intensity of the 

laser pulse falls to 1/e of the starting intensity. The number of round trips can be expressed as a 

function of the reflectivity of the end mirrors R:

2

 

 

 

 (1)

For example, a 1-m-long cavity bound by mirrors of reflectivity 0.9999 would have an n value of 

5000 corresponding to a simulated length of 10 km. The mirrors and mirror coatings are selected 

for particular wavelength ranges so that they can provide the maximum reflectance and increase 

the background path length calculated in Eq. 1.2The analyte under investigation dictates the 

wavelength range for the mirrors and the excitation source. In most CRDS applications, the 

excitation source is a pulsed tunable laser, often in the infrared range. 

The cavity used in CRDS offers an advantage over other traditional absorption spectroscopy 

methods. In gaseous PAS, the excitation laser has a very short interaction path through the 

analyte. This short interaction path limits the amount of excitation radiation that can be absorbed 

because there is an exponentially decreasing relation between fraction of absorbed light, (I/I0), 

and the path the light travels, . The absorption coefficient α is a constant that varies based on 

analyte and excitation source wavelength. This relationship is the Beer-Lambert law that 

describes electromagnetic radiation spectroscopy:

 

 

 

 

 (2)

We can take Beer-Lambert and express the fraction of transmitted light (I/I0) on the left-hand 

side of Eq. 2 as a function of time. This expression is important for analyzing the digital signal 

generated in a CRDS experiment. The fraction of transmitted light can be generalized in terms of 

the number, n, of round trips between the two mirrors with reflectivity, R:

8

 

 

 

  

 (3)
3

Because energy must be conserved, we know that the total reflected light must sum to unity with 

the transmitted fraction and the losses from diffraction and Rayleigh scattering. This allows us to 

write the fraction of transmitted light as

 

 

 

 

 (4)

where L is the loss factor for the end mirrors and T is the fraction of transmitted light through the 

mirrors. We know that the time it takes a pulse of laser light to traverse the cavity can be 

calculated by dividing the length of the cavity by the speed of light. Multiplying that quotient by 

twice the number of round trips allows for the replacement of the discrete n with the continuous 

t:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (5)

Grouping the terms in the exponential of Eq. 5 and defining the empty cavity decay time, τ, as 

τ=l/c(T+L) allows for the simplification of Eq. 5 into8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (6)

The two terms in the exponential are the time-dependant decay of the initial laser pulse due to 

the constant experimental parameters on the left and the analyte-dependant decay of the pulse 

that is dependent on the absorption coefficient on the right. The modified Beer-Lambert law in 

Eq. 6 is used in the numerical analysis of data collected by the CRDS. 

The detection device for CRDS is commonly a photomultiplier tube (PMT) or a photovoltaic 

detector (PVD) placed behind the mirror at the opposite end of the cavity from the injection point 

of the excitation source. A PMT works by measuring the chain reaction of the cascading electron 

emission from the photoemissive surfaces when a photon is incident on the collection window.3

A PVD device generates an electrical signal when a photon of sufficient energy promotes an 

electron from the valence band to the conduction band.9The detector in a CRDS collects the 

small percentage of photons that are transmitted through the mirrors capping the cavity. The 

number of transmitted photons decreases as the excitation pulse bounces between the mirrors due 

to molecular absorption, diffraction, Rayleigh scattering, and other dissipative effects. The

decrease caused by cavity losses is a source of constant loss, and molecular absorption of the 

pulse by the contents of the cell varies based on the molecular composition of the interstitial gas. 

The electrical output from the detector is recorded as a function of time, aided by a computer,

and fit with an exponentially decaying function. Figure 1 is a diagram of PMT response versus 

time for a theoretical CRDS experiment.2The theoretical response of a PVD detector will look 

the same, and though there are experimental reasons to choose one detection method over the 

other, they are not discussed here.
4

Fig. 1 Diagram of the exponential decay of the PMT response as a function of time for a 

theoretical CRDS experiment2

The digitized signal produced by the detector is recorded as a function of time and is analyzed by 

determining the first-order decay constant for every pulse.2This decay constant is a function of 

the experimental setup and the absorption coefficient of the gas in the cavity, and can be 

compared to the contents of the exponential in Eq. 6. The experimental setup remains constant 

throughout the experiment and thus the absorption coefficient is directly calculable from the 

decay constant. This calculation is accomplished by comparing the change in decay constants 

between a non-reactive analyte, nitrogen gas, for example, and an analyte known to be active in 

the wavelength range of the excitation source.

Every CRDS system is unique and can differ in large or small ways. The experimental setups 

vary from the length of the cavity to the software that analyzes the output from the detector. The 

experimental setups also vary based upon the goals for the detector; however, the guiding 

principles of analysis and experimental design remain constant. A CRDS system measures the 

decay rates of a monochromatic pulse of light and uses that decay to extrapolate information 

about the contents of the cavity. The work discussed in this report was accomplished using a set 

of two CRDSs. The analysis of the CRDS method discussed herein can be extended to the 

general case despite that specificity.
5

2. Experimental Setup

2.1 Device

The evaluated devices are a pair of CRDSs built for the US Army Edgewood Chemical 

Biological Center (ECBC) by Los Gatos Research, Inc. (LGR),

10 via an Army Small Business 

Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II program. The devices are very similar to the generic CRDS

devices discussed in Section 1.3 and are almost completely self-contained, requiring very little in 

the way of laboratory support for their operation. The CRDS sensors come preloaded with the 

required analytical software to fit the measured pulse decay curves and remove the constant 

background features from the data. Both sensors share the vast majority of their components, the 

notable exception being the excitation source, therefore the configuration of only one of the 

sensors is discussed in detail.

A schematic of the CRDS system from LGR is depicted in Fig. 2.

10 The schematic is not drawn 

to scale and the placement of the components has been optimized for visibility, not for the best 

representation of the actual system. The diagram depicts the major components of the system 

that were discussed in Section 1.3 and most of the important supporting parts. The cavity is a 

stainless steel cylinder that is capped at both ends by high reflectance mirrors. There are two 

sensors, one for pressure and one for temperature, to monitor the inner conditions of the cavity. 

The cavity was designed for gaseous samples and has two valves to control gas flow into, 

through, and out of the cavity. 

Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of the CRDS system under investigation. The schematic is not to 

scale and omits several components for clarity and visibility.

10
6

The excitation source for the CRDS system is a quantum cascade laser (QCL) that is wavelength 

tunable in the infrared region. The laser, produced by Daylight Solutions, Inc.,

11 is a tunable 

pulsed external cavity quantum cascade laser (ECQCL) and is available commercially. The 

ECQCLs produced by Daylight are available in a variety of center wavelengths for a collective 

tuning range of about 4–12 μm or about 830–2500 cm–1. The two ECQCLs used in the CRDS 

systems have wavenumber ranges of 820–1000 and 1000–1200 cm–1.

Mercury, cadmium, and tellurium (HgCdTe) combined form a PVD capable of measuring the 

fraction of infrared light that is transmitted through the highly reflective mirror at the end of the 

CRDS cavity. The HgCdTe detector must be cooled with liquid nitrogen to minimize detector 

noise and minimize the detection threshold. The photograph of the interior of the detector

(Fig. 3) shows many more parts than seen in Fig. 2. Most notably, the laser controller at the far 

right, the data acquisition hardware on top of the laser controller, and the guts of a laboratory 

personal computer, which can be seen beneath the central processing unit (CPU) fan on the 

motherboard in the middle of the photograph.

Fig. 3 Photograph of the inside of the CRDS system. The laser head is the blue and white box on the far left 

of the device. The detector is the red cylinder with a gold top in the upper right-hand corner. The 

cavity is the orange wrapped cylinder at the top of the unit. Other major components are the laser 

controller underneath the data acquisition hardware on the bottom right, and the computer in front and 

in the middle.

2.2 Laboratory Setup

The CRDS devices arrived from LGR almost ready for data acquisition. The laser head needed to 

be mounted and aligned, the computer in the instruments needed standard peripherals (e.g., a 

mouse, keyboard, and monitor), and the devices needed an analyte delivery system. Analyte 

control is perhaps the most important experimental control required for qualitative and 

quantitative analysis and safety. Strict regulation of the sample concentration reduces a major 

factor in experimental uncertainty, and proper ventilation reduces the hazards involved in 

studying analytes that have particular interest for the Army. 
7

The implemented solution for analyte control used in this analysis is an Owlstone OVG-4 

calibration gas generator from Owlstone Nanotech, Inc., and permeation tubes.12 Permeation 

tubes are a calibrated combination of fluid analyte encased in a polymer that, when heated to a

specific temperature, emit a precise amount of the analyte in a gaseous state. This gaseous 

emission can be combined with a flow of a carrier gas (e.g., nitrogen gas) producing a constant 

flow with a known concentration of the analyte. The known concentration of the analyte is a 

function of the permeation tube, temperature, analyte composition, and nitrogen gas flow. The 

first three factors are constants for each permeation tube. The nitrogen gas flow is a tunable 

factor allowing for variation in the analyte concentration. The CRDS system has built-in 

computer-controlled sample flow valves and requires connections only to the calibration gas 

generator and exhaust. 

2.3 Computer Control and Data Analysis

Each CRDS device has its own built-in computer for data acquisition and experimental control.

The computers came preloaded with the necessary software to control the spectrometer and 

collect data. The computer inside the spectrometer is a desktop computer without a case, running 

full versions of Microsoft Windows®and LabVIEW software. The manufacturer of the 

spectrometers has developed and included LabVIEW programs with graphical interfaces for the 

operation of the spectrometers and data analysis, though the data analysis software was eschewed 

for the more familiar Microsoft Excel for the work described herein. 

The experimental parameters under computer control are the inlet and outlet valves for the 

cavity, the excitation laser, and the PVD. Inlet and outlet valves control sample flow through the 

cavity. Computer control of several laser parameters is important for data collection and 

processing. For data collection, the PVD generates the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) when 

the initial energy of the excitation laser pulse is highest. This is the case because the 

spectrometer measures the decay pattern of a single laser pulse that has been attenuated by 

environmental factors in addition to analyte molecular absorption. Maximization of the initial 

laser power will maximize the number of measureable round trips of the pulse and allow the

software to generate the most accurate fit for the data. 

Additionally, computer control of the laser allows for automation of the data collection process. 

Simplified acquisition of data involves measuring the ring-down time at a constant analyte 

concentration at every wavelength in the tuning range of the excitation source. Having the 

computer control the output wavelength of the excitation laser and the collection of data enables 

the desired automation. 

Computer control of the experiment and data handling streamlines the data and experimental 

analysis procedures. The exponential decay of the excitation pulse was numerically described in 

Eq. 6, and in that equation, the pulse decay depended on two factors, one being the desired 

molecular absorption of the analyte being investigated. The other factor was a constant that 

depended on the experimental parameters; that constant can be measured for a set experimental 
8

setup and then erased from the data leaving only the desired information about the analyte. This 

background removal is discussed further in Section 3. The output from the spectrometers is a 

generic data file that can be imported into Microsoft Excel for analysis. 

3. Experimental Results

3.1 Nitrogen

The production of the calibrated analytes uses nitrogen gas flowing over the emitting permeation 

tube. Nitrogen gas is used because it is relatively inert, not active in the infrared region, and 

prevalent in air. The lack of reactivity aids in the study of the analyte, making sure that the 

measured response is that of the desired analyte only and not specific to a reaction with the 

carrier gas. The excitation laser does not have a flat power output versus wavelength 

relationship. The laser has highest power at the center wavelength and decreasing power as the 

wavelength moves away from that value. Because of this, any measurement that is dependent on 

the power of the laser, spectroscopy being one, must account for the excitation laser power 

variation. Nitrogen being inactive in the wavelength range of the excitation laser enables the 

measurement of the laser power curve for changing wavelength, and thus, the elimination of 

diminishing power’s effect on the measured spectrum. Nitrogen is also a natural choice for 

evaluation of any sensor that has a future application in chemical sensing. Nitrogen gas is the 

most abundant component, about 78% of air. If the spectrometer does not function with nitrogen 

as the carrier gas, it will have a much harder time working in any practical environment. 

The first series of measurements taken with either spectrometer are nitrogen backgrounds. Pure 

nitrogen gas flows through the cavity and a scan over wavelength is performed. Figure 4 is a plot 

of loss versus excitation laser wavenumber. The software takes the exponential ring-down

measured by the photodetector and calculates a value that is directly proportional to the 

absorption of whatever is in the cavity. For the purpose of this report, the value measured by the 

spectrometer is called loss and is recorded in arbitrary units (A.U.). Because nitrogen has no 

infrared absorption feature, the measured background in Fig. 4 is the background noise that is in 

the system. The background is a combination of varying laser power and experimental noise 

sources. This measured background can be subtracted from spectra measured with an absorbing 

analyte to isolate the infrared spectrum of the analyte. 
9

Fig. 4 Plot of measured loss vs. excitation laser wavelength for nitrogen. This plot details the 

background signal measured by the spectrometer because nitrogen gas has no infrared 

absorption in the studied wavenumber range. The background is a combination of the 

variations in excitation laser power and other experimental factors.

The experimental factors that contribute to the background seen in Fig. 4 can fluctuate slightly 

over time and therefore an average of several background measurements was taken and used as 

the baseline for the data analysis of the selected analytes. This average also aids in the 

calculation of the noise floor of the system. The noise floor changes with respect to wavenumber 

and that causes the minimum detectable signal to vary depending on the analyte because 

different analytes have absorption features at different wavenumbers. Because the minimum 

detectable limits vary by analyte, the specific wavenumbers for each are discussed with their 

experimental results later in this report. It is important to note that there is a lot of noise in the 

lower wavenumber section of the plot. Above 840 cm–1, the loss spectrum is smooth and 

consistent, which lowers the standard deviation of the background, which is very important in 

attaining the smallest possible detectable limit. This noise varies across different background 

spectra and likely is the result of low excitation laser power at the extremes of the power 

spectrum. 

3.2 Ammonia

The first analyte investigated in the evaluation of the CRDSs was ammonia. Ammonia was 

chosen for two main reasons. The first being that it has absorption peaks in the tuning range of 

the excitation laser in one of the spectrometers (820 to 1010 cm–1or 9.8 to 12.2 μm). This is a 

binary condition, either the absorption feature of the molecule is appropriate or it is unusable for 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

820 870 920 970

Loss (A.U.)

Wavenumber (cm^-1)
10

evaluation. The second reason why ammonia was selected is because the overarching goal of this 

work is studying hazard detection. Ammonia is classified as a high hazard toxic industrial 

chemical (TIC) by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,

13 and therefore, ammonia 

detection is a practical and useful application for a gas sensor.

A high concentration of ammonia is used for initial detection studies because a higher 

concentration of analyte generally results in a larger sensor response. This occurs by increasing 

the number of absorbers in the path of the excitation laser, which, in turn, decreases the effective 

path length experienced by the excitation laser by increasing the number of possible absorption 

sites. The relationship between sample concentration and measured CRDS signal is used later for 

a quantitative evaluation of the detector. For now, the high concentration of the analyte is used to 

increase the qualitative investigation into the performance of the spectrometer by magnifying 

subtle features that might not be visible or differentiable at lower concentrations and signal 

levels. Figure 5 is a plot of the measured loss versus excitation laser wavenumber.

Fig. 5 Plot of measured loss vs. excitation laser wavelength for the ammonia gas sample

The low wavenumber negative loss values are artifacts of the background variation in the lower 

power region of the spectrum. The measured loss at the extreme lower end of the wavenumber 

spectrum, seen in Fig. 4, is so close to zero that small variance is enough to shift the ammonia 

spectrum negative when the averaged background is subtracted from the raw signal data. The 

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

820 840 860 880 900 920 940 960 980 1000

Loss (A.U.)

Wavenumber (cm-1)
11

two main absorption peaks are at 930 and 967 cm–1, and they are the focus of the ammonia limits 

of detection work. The low absorption doublets between 900 and 840 cm–1are discussed by 

McKean and Schatz, and are an excellent check on the qualitative accuracy of the spectrum.14

Calculation of the limit of detection for ammonia starts with recording the absorption spectrum at 

a wide range of analyte concentrations. Figure 6 is a plot of the group of spectra taken for 

ammonia at concentrations between 4.6 ppm and 460 ppb.

Fig. 6 Plot of measured loss vs. excitation wavenumber for 10 ammonia concentrations

There is a clear relationship between the quantity of ammonia in the spectrometer and the 

measured loss, evidenced by the decreasing loss measured as the concentration decreases. This is 

logical because increasing the amount of ammonia increases the number of possible absorbers 

for the excitation laser and thus decreases the number of reflections the pulse can make before 

being fully attenuated. This relationship is the basis for determining the sensitivity of the 

detector. The varied spectra are not, however, perfect copies of each other. It is important to note 

that there is a discernible shift in peak wavenumber as the concentration of ammonia decreases.

The highest two concentration values (4.6 and 2.3 ppm) both have their peak absorption values 

shifted between 2 and 3 cm–1. We believe that this shift arises from clumping of the ammonia 

due to the higher concentration values. This shift in absorption features and the forming of 

dimers and trimers in ammonia have been discussed previously in the literature.15,16 It is because 

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

820 870 920 970

Loss (A.U.)

Wavenumber (cm^-1)

4.6 PPM

2.3 PPM

1.5 PPM

1.15 PPM

0.92 PPM

0.77 PPM

0.66 PPM

0.57 PPM

0.51 PPM

0.46 PPM
12

of that shift that we examined the 1.5-ppm absorption spectrum in Fig. 5, and why we use the 

1.5-ppm data for external comparison in section 3.3. 

A plot of the measured loss versus ammonia concentration (Fig. 7) can be constructed using the 

lower of the two absorption peaks as the fixed comparison point. This plot examines the 

relationship between those two factors. This relationship is then used to determine the sensitivity 

of the instrument.

Fig. 7 Plot of measured ammonia absorption vs. concentration at one of the absorption maxima

(930 cm–1)

Plotting the measured loss versus the ammonia concentration reveals a linear relationship 

between the two. This linear relationship, depicted with a linear-fit trend line, allows for the 

calculation of the lowest detectable concentration of ammonia using a three sigma (3σ) 

calculation. The 3σ calculation is accomplished by dividing three times the standard deviation of 

the background by the slope of the linear fit.1Performing this calculation for the strongest 

ammonia absorption maxima, we determined the ammonia limit of detection to be 18.1 ppb for 

the LGR CRDS. 

Analysis of the detection threshold depends on the studied chemical, and the recommended 

airborne exposure limit (REL) dictated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and 

Health (NIOSH).17 The REL for ammonia is 25 ppm averaged over a 10-h working day.17 The 

y = 18.679x - 3.3718

R2 = 0.9977

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

Loss (A.U.)

Ammonia Concentration (ppm)
13

CRDS can measure ammonia concentrations that are well under the REL, and therefore, has met 

one of the most important design goals for the technology. That CRDS and the specific 

spectrometer analyzed at the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) perform well for a specific 

compound does not imply that the performance can be extended for subsequent compounds. The 

methodology and spectrometers must be tested on further compounds of interest. 

3.3 1,4-Dioxane

Evaluation of the second CRDS requires an analyte that fulfills the same two selection criteria 

that were used in the selection of ammonia. The second of the two spectrometers investigated is 

functionally identical to the first with one exception, the wavelength range of the excitation laser

(1000 to 1240 cm–1or 8 to 10 μm). That means that ammonia cannot be used to evaluate the 

second spectrometer; another analyte must be chosen. The substance 1,4-dioxane has an 

absorption peak in the wavelength range of the second laser, and therefore, passes the binary first 

hurdle for selection. Also 1,4-dioxane fulfills the second of the selection criteria in that it is an 

analyte of interest in hazard detection that has immediate Army applications, given that 1,4-

dioxane is a carcinogen, flammable, and possibly damaging to vital organs according to the New 

Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.17

We followed the same recipe used previously with ammonia. We started with a high 

concentration of 1,4-dioxane and swept the excitation wavenumber, recording the spectrum of 

the analyte. Figure 8 is a plot of the measured loss versus wavenumber for the highest 

concentration of 1,4-dioxane. There are two clear absorption features, a small peak at 1053 cm–1, 

and a larger broader peak with three distinct maxima in the larger absorption envelop between 

1104 and 1160 cm–1. The absorption maximum is at 1136 cm–1and that peak is used in the 

detection threshold calculations.
14

Fig. 8 Plot of loss vs. wavenumber for highest used concentration of 1,4-dioxane

There are clear absorption features in the investigated wavenumber range, just as in the ammonia 

spectra in Fig. 5, but the maximum loss measured for 1,4-dioxane is nearly an order of 

magnitude smaller than that of ammonia. This affects the limit of detection calculations that are

made later in this report, as there is a lower SNR. Additionally, there are fewer points with which 

to compare the recorded 1,4-dioxane spectrum to a literature reference. Fewer peaks also make

automated algorithm-based detection schemes more difficult. Despite those differences, the 

recorded behavior of the 1,4-dioxane spectra are more than adequate to showcase the capabilities 

of the spectrometer. 

Beginning the limits of detection calculations starts again with evaluation of the changes in 

measured spectra as the analyte concentration varies. Plotting the spectra of 1,4-dioxane at 

varying concentrations on the same plot (Fig. 9) is a good way to see how decreasing analyte 

concentration lowers the measured signal. The overall shape of the plot remains constant, but the 

amplitude drops precipitously with the drop in concentration. 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1000 1050 1100 1150 1200

Loss (A.U.)

Wavenumber (cm^-1)
15

Fig. 9 Measured loss vs. excitation wavenumber for multiple 1,4-dioxane concentrations

It is obvious, when comparing Fig. 9 to Fig. 6, that the peak wavenumber for the absorption 

maximum does not fluctuate for 1,4-dioxane as much as it does for ammonia. This consistency is 

likely a result of the stability in the tuning of the second laser more so than environmental 

concerns. The decrease in peak wavelength fluctuations will increase the sensitivity of the 

spectrometer because the standard deviation of the background noise will be lower due to more 

stable experimental conditions. The next step in the limits of detection process is to examine the 

relationship between absorption maximum and concentration. Just as for ammonia, the 

relationship between those two factors is linear, as seen in Fig. 10. 

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1000 1050 1100 1150 1200

Loss (A.U.)

Wavenumber (cm^-1)

5.95 PPM

2.98 PPM

1.98 PPM

1.49 PPM

1.19 PPM

0.99 PPM

0.85 PPM

0.74 PPM

0.66 PPM

0.60 PPM
16

Fig. 10 Measured loss vs. 1,4-dioxane concentration

Following the same prescription from the limit of detection calculation for ammonia, the 

standard deviation of the measured nitrogen background for the second spectrometer was

calculated.

1

Three times that value was divided by the slope of the linear fit from Fig. 10 to get 

the lower limit of detection for 1,4-dioxane. Calculations show that the lowest theoretical 

concentration of 1,4-dioxane that can be detected is 27 ppb. According to NIOSH, the REL for 

1,4-dioxane is 1 ppm, not to be exceeded during any half-hour period.17 This limit is well above 

the detection threshold for the spectrometer making it more than capable of detecting 1,4-

dioxane well before harmful levels are present.

Comparisons between the calculated limits of detection for ammonia and 1,4-dioxane are 

excellent markers of experimental success. They show that the evaluated detectors are capable of 

meeting design specifications for hazard detection. However, evaluation of the spectrometers 

does not stop with limit of detection calculations. The chosen analytes have been studied 

numerous times before and those studies will serve as a baseline against which the experimental 

results are measured.

y = 1.6074x - 0.6404

R2 = 0.9984

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Loss (A.U.)

Concentration (ppm)
17

4. Literature Comparison

4.1 Public Databases

The data produced by the CRDSs must be analyzed against external sources. This comparison is 

done to remove experimental and instrumental bias and noise sources, and to analyze the utility 

and effectiveness of the spectrometers. The external sources range from massive online 

databases of infrared spectra18 to data taken at ARL previously with other spectroscopic 

devices.19 There are challenges associated with comparing data sets across multiple experimental 

platforms and databases. These challenges arise from comparing results of different experimental 

conditions and sensitivities. 

Spectroscopic measurements, at their core, are relative measurements. It is more important to 

know the relative size of one absorption peak to another on the same spectrum, rather than 

knowing the absolute numerical value of that measurement. This emphasis on relative values can 

be seen in Section 3 where absorption values are plotted as functions of excitation wavenumber. 

The absorption value is reported in “A.U.”. Often an absorption spectrum will be normalized 

with the highest absorption peak value taking on an absorption value of one, and the rest of the 

spectrum being scaled accordingly. Normalization and arbitrary units makes qualitative 

comparison between spectra recorded under dissimilar conditions easier. 

The two databases used for qualitative comparison of the measured spectra are from the National 

Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)20 and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory 

(PNNL).21 These databases consolidate spectroscopic information from a variety of sources and 

from measurements taken by the laboratory responsible for the database.18 The PNNL data were 

collected onsite and come with information pertaining to the experimental conditions under 

which the data were collected. The NIST data come from a variety of sources and are available

digitally as graphical data.

4.2 Ammonia

The different origins, formats, and experimental conditions under which the reference data were 

collected make a singular comparison infeasible. Instead, we examine each reference database 

against the experimentally generated CRDS. The PNNL data can be plotted on the same graph as 

the data collected with the CRDSs, whereas the NIST data, available online in graphical form,

are compared as two separate images. The PNNL database has three data sets for ammonia, each 

recorded at different temperatures.22 We use the PNNL spectrum, recorded at 25 °C, which is 

closest in temperature to the CRDS experimental data, recorded between 20 and 25 °C. 

This spectrum is a small piece of the larger infrared absorption spectrum of ammonia available 

from PNNL. We select the portion of the PNNL data that coincides with the operating range of 
18

the excitation laser in the CRDS. The features are much sharper in Fig. 11 than seen with the 

CRDS in Fig. 5. This is because the PNNL data have significantly higher spectral resolution, 

about 20 times finer, than the instruments from LGR. This high resolution allows for the large 

absorption feature between 920 and 940 cm–1to be seen as a collection of smaller peaks 

branching off from the main absorption peak at 930 cm–1. The difference in resolution is striking 

when we plot both the PNNL and CRDS ammonia data on the same plot (Fig. 12).

Fig. 11 Ammonia spectrum from PNNL

0

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820 840 860 880 900 920 940 960 980 1000

Normalized Absorbance (A.U.)

Wavenumber (cm^-1)
19

Fig.12 Comparison between CRDS (blue) and PNNL (red) absorption spectra for ammonia

The two spectra are very similar in terms of absorption peak placement and general shape, but it 

is clear that the PNNL data document more features than the CRDS data. The doublets discussed 

in Section 3.2 are still present, and many of the small fluctuations (<0.1 A.U. absorbance) appear 

to be spectral features that both the CRDS and PNNL data sets capture. There are slight shifts the 

position of the spectral features between the two data sets, but not nearly as pronounced as the 

higher concentrations of ammonia. We know that the PNNL data were taken with an ammonia 

concentration of 1 ppm, and the spectral shifting seen above 2 ppm does not appear, which 

supports the molecular effect postulation from Section 3.2.15,16 There are, however, differences 

between the two spectra. Several of the peaks have different relative sizes between the two 

spectra. Peaks at 908 and 992 cm–1, for example, are much larger relative to the rest of the 

spectrum for PNNL, and the peak at 930 cm–1is more dominant in the CRDS data set. This 

relative shifting of peak intensity is interesting, though less relevant in detection algorithms than 

peak location shifts. Overall, the equivalent concentration CRDS data are an excellent match for 

the PNNL data, and a solid check on the capabilities of the evaluated spectrometer. 

The first of two NIST data sets for ammonia is from the Coblentz Society, and the data have 

been digitized from a hard copy of a spectra recorded in 1964.23 This data set has a resolution of 

4 cm–1, compared to a resolution of 1 cm–1in the experimental CRDS data and a 0.6 cm–1

resolution for the PNNL data. Additionally, the imprecision of the reduced resolution also has 

0

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0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1

840 860 880 900 920 940 960 980 1000

Normalized Absorbance (A.U.)

Wavenumber (cm^-1)

CRDS

PNNL
20

issues inherent in the digitization of graphical data. There are interpolated numerical data points 

available for this spectrum, but the uncertainty associated with the origins of the data limits the 

quantitative usefulness. Qualitatively, however, this data set, in addition to the second ammonia 

spectra from NIST, can be used to confirm the data recorded by the CRDSs. The second data set 

from NIST does not have chronological or formatting information available. The only

information about the data set is that it is the result of an Environmental Protection Agency 

contract with Sadtler Research Labs.24 There is also no concentration or resolution information 

available. The two NIST spectra are compared to two of the recorded ammonia spectra from the 

CRDS, as seen in Fig. 13.

Fig. 13 Comparison of ammonia spectra from NIST (top) and CRDS (bottom). The letters A though H denote 

spectral features used for comparison between the four spectra.
21

The starting point for the analysis of the plots in Fig. 13, before comparing the NIST data sets to 

the experimental CRDS data, is the analysis of the two NIST spectra in the top plot. The red plot 

is the digitization of data from the Coblentz Society23 and the blue spectrum is from the NIST 

Mass Spec Data Center.24 The two spectra agree with each other in terms of general shape and 

spectral feature locations. The two spectra have two main absorption maxima, A and B, and 

several minor features C through H. The relative size difference between the maxima and the 

minor features is the same between the two data sets. However, it is clear that the data sets differ 

in key areas. The first key difference between the two NIST spectra is that the NIST Mass Spec 

data have a much lower resolution than the 4 cm–1reported for the Coblentz Society data. The 

lack of resolution leads to the obfuscation of spectral features. What were clear absorption 

doublets in spectral features F, G, and H, discussed in Section 3.2, are now seen as single 

absorption peaks. Additionally, several secondary and tertiary peaks are absent from the 

spectrum. The example of a secondary peak near the apex of maxima B can be seen in the higher 

resolution Coblentz data, but not in the NIST Mass Spec data. Though the two data sets have 

different resolutions, they are both important in the overall analysis of the ammonia data. 

Another important difference between the two spectra is the slight but noticeable shift in the 

absorption maxima, features A and B. The maxima in the NIST Mass Spec data are located at 

slightly lower wavenumbers than the corresponding maxima in the Coblentz data. Additionally, 

the relative size of the two maxima is different between the two data sets.

The reference data from NIST have several important similarities with the measured CRDS data. 

The first is the illustration that different spectra of ammonia can have different relative peak 

sizes, shapes, or locations without the spectra losing their overall picture of ammonia absorption. 

It is clear that some of the differences between the two CRDS spectra in the bottom plot of 

Fig. 13 are not artifacts of the CRDS, as they also appear in the NIST reference data. Mutability 

of peak dominance between maxima A and B shows up, as does the slight shift in peak 

wavelength absorption. It might be interesting to note that the shift in wavenumber and the 

swapping of relative absorption maxima occur in tandem, i.e., the Coblentz data and the 1.5-ppm 

data appear to be analogous in that regard, and the same with the NIST Mass Spec data and the 

4.6-ppm data. However, the similarity might merely be a coincidence of having few data sets, 

and further examination of data might show that the two shifts occur separately. The lack of 

concentration information from the NIST data sets prohibits the possible confirmation of the 

molecular interactions thought to be responsible for the shifting peak wavelength values. Overall, 

the comparison between the NIST data sets, the data from PNNL, and the experimentally 

produced data from the CRDS spectrometer show excellent agreement, certainly enough to 

verify that the experimental data are within desired tolerances for accuracy. 

4.3 1,4-Dioxane

Verification of the second CRDS necessitated the use of a second analyte with active absorption 

features in the wavenumber range of the QCL. As such, 1,4-dioxane, discussed in Section 3.3, fit 

the specifications of spectral activity and hazardous interest for the Army. The comparison of 
22

experimental 1,4-dioxane spectra to reference data starts with the analysis of the spectrum 

referenced from PNNL, seen in Fig. 14. Like the ammonia data from PNNL, the 1,4-dioxane 

spectrum was recorded at 25 °C with an analyte concentration of 1 ppm. 

Fig. 14 1,4-dioxane spectrum from PNNL

There are two slight differences in the presentation of the 1,4-dioxane data that show up in 

Fig. 14 and in the proceeding plots. The first is that the x-axis of the plot has been reversed to 

show wavenumbers in decreasing order. This is done for consistency with reference data 

presentation. Additionally, the range of the x-axis has been truncated to magnify the two spectral 

features that are used in the comparative analysis of the experimental data. This truncation does 

not eliminate any important information. There are two primary spectral features that are

discussed from Fig. 14. There is a small absorption peak at 1053 cm–1, and a 60 cm–1 wide 

absorption maximum between 1160 and 1100 cm–1. Inside of that wider absorption maximum,

there are distinct peaks, the local maximum, and global maximum for the wavelength range of 

interest, which is located at 1138 cm–1.

The plot of the normalized 1,4-dioxane spectra from PNNL and the CRDS is in nearly perfect 

alignment. The two separate spectra in Fig.15 are almost hard to differentiate, with the only 

minor difference being the secondary peak at 1052 cm–1in the PNNL data that does not appear 

in the CRDS data. That minor difference between the two spectra is a factor of the significantly 

0

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1

1160 1140 1120 1100 1080 1060 1040 1020

Normalized Absorbance (A.U.)

Wavenumber (cm^-1)
23

increased resolution available in the PNNL data. The other spectral features are broad enough 

that the CRDS is capable of sufficiently resolving them. 

Fig. 15 Comparison between PNNL (blue) and CRDS (red) spectra for 1,4-dioxane

The overlap of the two spectra did not occur natively with the raw CRDS data. There is a 

constant 2 cm–1 wavenumber shift applied to the domain of the CRDS data. This shift is not 

caused by the same molecular effects that shifted the spectrum of ammonia; instead, it is a 

product of the excitation laser used in the spectrometer. The shift is likely due to a simple 

calibration error within the excitation laser and does not affect the effectiveness of the 

spectrometer. The agreement between experimental and reference data in Fig. 15 provides a clear 

picture of the capabilities of the CRDS. Further comparison to NIST reference data confirms

this.

There are four data sets of 1,4-dioxane spectra available for reference from the NIST database. 

Three of the spectra are from the Coblentz Society23 and the remaining spectrum is from the 

NIST Mass Spec Data Center.24 We compared the two most useful spectra from the NIST 

electronic database, one from each source. The two spectra in Fig. 16 are quite similar to each 

other and have the same basic shape that can be used to identify 1,4-dioxane. The blue spectrum, 

from the NIST Mass Spec Data Center, does not have the same level of detail as the red 

spectrum from the Coblentz Society. It is clear that the absorption maximum in the red spectrum 

0

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0.9

1

1160 1140 1120 1100 1080 1060 1040 1020

Normalized Absorbance (a.u.)

Wavenumber (cm-1)

PNNL

CRDS
24

is not a broad, smooth peak. There are three different features that can be identified at the apex. 

Those features have been identified with the letters A through C and the smaller side peak at the 

low wavenumber end of the spectrum in both reference spectra is denoted D. Comparison of the 

reference data to the CRDS data shows a clear match between them. The wavenumber resolution 

for the experimental data is much higher than that of the NIST reference, leading to more 

distinction between features A through C, even when the SNR is lower for the lower 

concentration green spectral line. 

Fig. 16 Comparison between NIST reference data (top) and CRDS experimental data (bottom). The two spectra in 

the top plot have different data sources and sensitivities.
25

The comparisons between the two reference databases, NIST and PNNL, show that the CRDS is 

capable of accurately measuring the infrared absorption spectra of the two selected analytes. 

While it would be hasty to say that the spectrometers could be used to measure any analyte, it is 

not too much of a stretch to say with some certainty that analytes with absorption features in the 

wavelength range of the two excitation lasers could be measured accurately. 

4.4 ARL Experimental Data Comparison

The Optical Devices and Sensors (ODS) team in the Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate 

(SEDD) of ARL was chosen as a natural collaborator with ECBC because of their extensive 

experience in spectroscopy. This experience aided the experimental setup and execution, as all 

the required materials were in place, including the two studied analytes. Furthermore, the 

previous experimental results in infrared spectroscopy obtained by the ODS team can be used as 

another reference point for the CRDS data. The internally generated ARL data come from two 

different spectroscopic methods, PAS and FTIR. The PAS data were taken using the 

experimental setup developed at ARL.

19 The FTIR data were taken using a Nicolet 6700 FTIR 

spectrometer (Thermo Scientific). Those methods have been used to measure the infrared 

absorption spectrum of 1,4-dioxane in a similar wavelength range to that of the CRDS 

experiment. 

The comparison between internally generated ARL reference data in the CRDS data serves as the 

last check on the capabilities of the spectrometers. The experimental data used in this 

comparison have the advantage over the electronic database data in that they come from a source 

where the parameters of the data acquisition are well known. The PAS data have a wavenumber 

resolution of 1 cm

–1

, matching the resolution of the CRDSs. The resolution of the FTIR data is 

twice that of the other two methodologies at 1⁄2 cm

–1

. We are able to examine the data all on the 

same plot because the raw data are available for the PAS and FTIR spectra. This comparison can

done with normalized data sets with the normalization accomplished by setting the value of the 

maximum signal to unity and adjusting the rest of the data proportionally. There are four data 

sets for three different spectroscopic methods, as shown in Fig. 17. The two CRDS spectra are 

from the concentrations used throughout Section 3: 5.96 ppm (green) and 1.98 ppm (black). The 

FTIR data, discussed above, are in red and the PAS data are in blue.
26

Fig. 17 Comparison of the three spectroscopic methods. The two CRDS spectra (green and black) are 

compared to FTIR (red) and PAS (blue). 

A first coarse look shows excellent agreement on the main spectroscopic features. There are four 

main features that were examined in the previous section when comparing the CRDS data to the 

available reference databases. Those four points, A through D in previous discussions, are the 

three peaks inside of the local absorption maximum and the smaller peak located at around 

1050 cm–1. Those points are all visible in all four spectra, though there is a clear downshift in 

their wavenumber when going from the FTIR and PAS data to the CRDS data. This shift looks 

like a constant translation of the spectrum of the same number of wavenumbers, and thus, is 

likely due to a systematic difference in laser tuning or calibration. The consistency of this 

translation difference does not affect the viability of the CRDS technology as it is something 

further calibration would likely eliminate. Once the linear shift in wavenumbers is compensated 

for, the spectra align almost identically. 

This is final confirmation of the ability of the CRDSs to accurately reproduce chemical spectra 

for the species tested and evaluated by the ODS team at ARL. The technology must be 

extensively evaluated for each new chemical species it will be used to detect, but without loss of 

generality, it can be seen that the CRDSs will work for chemical species with absorption features 

in their wavelength ranges. 

0.0

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0.9

1.0

1200 1180 1160 1140 1120 1100 1080 1060 1040

Normalized Signal (A.U.)

Excitation Wavenumber (cm-1)

FTIR

CRDS 1

CRDS 2

PAS
27

5. Conclusions

The goal of the collaboration between ARL and ECBC was the evaluation of a pair of CRDSs

delivered to the US Government by LGR as part of a SBIR. The evaluation has focused on the 

reproduction of infrared absorption spectra for hazardous reference materials that are of 

immediate interest to the health and safety of the US Army. The two chosen analytes, ammonia 

and 1,4-dioxane, are both hazardous materials as defined by NIOSH and other Government 

agencies.17 The spectra produced by the CRDSs have been evaluated for accuracy against both 

external and internal reference data, and for utility against Governmental safety standards. 

Accurate re-creation of accepted reference spectra is one of the main evaluation criteria used 

when examining a new spectroscopic device. The CRDSs described herein were shown to 

faithfully reproduce the reference spectra from two different databases maintained by national 

laboratories. It is clear that the experimental data from the CRDSs are measuring the same 

unique identifying features for the two analytes tested. Further analysis of internal data from 

different spectroscopic methodologies confirmed the accuracy of the LGR products. 

The examined internal ARL data were helpful in confirming spectral features observed in the 

CRDS spectra. These data do not have the same status as the external databases, but are crucial 

nonetheless in the analysis process. We had tighter control over the experimental parameters of 

the internally generated data and complete information of the generation of the data. This allows

for the identification of possible systemic issues in the internal data and for the confirmation of

the experimental results of the CRDS. A slight shift in the wavenumber of the absorption peaks 

is one such feature that the internal data were able to identify. Though this is a negligible shift as 

far as the performance of the spectrometers are concerned, knowledge of the shift would allow 

for compensation if deemed necessary.

The goal of this study was not to determine the best infrared absorption spectroscopy method for 

the Army; it was to examine and evaluate two specific devices that were designed to measure 

infrared spectra. The strengths and limitations of the CRDS method are important, however, to 

the conversation about the LGR spectrometers as spectroscopic tools. Perhaps the most 

important feature of the CRDS method is the elongated effective path length that the laser pulse 

has to interact with the analyte. This feature is incredibly important to concentration studies, and 

the LGR spectrometers proved to be up to the desired task of measuring sub-dangerous levels of 

the chosen analytes. The instruments performed well for the purpose of early warning or trace 

detection of hazards, with detection limits in excess of 30 times smaller than hazardous levels of 

the studied analytes. The excitation lasers inside of the spectrometers are both broadly tuned and 

commercially produced. The broad tuning of the excitation source allows for multiple analytes to 

be investigated for one source, and the commercial origin of the laser means that the 

spectrometers can be upgraded as the QCLs are. 
28

There are drawbacks to the examined spectrometers that might limit their utility. The first is that 

the device requires a carefully aligned optical setup to minimize the detection threshold. The 

excitation laser must be injected into the cavity in such a way as to maximize the path length of 

the laser pulse. The mirrors that truncate each end of the cavity must also be carefully aligned to 

maximize the effectiveness of the spectrometers. There is a critical need for optical stability 

limits on where and how the spectrometers are used. The second main limitation of the system is 

the liquid nitrogen cooled HgCdTe detector. That the detector needs a steady supply of liquid 

nitrogen as coolant severely limits the environments in which the detectors are useful and 

hampers the portability of the system. Some of the problems associated with the CRDSs are 

endemic to infrared spectrometers, including analyte delivery and overall device size. The 

spectrometers as analyzed do not have any way of collecting ambient gaseous samples for 

analysis, thus the need for external gas supply equipment. The size of the spectrometers, roughly 

5 ft3, is not ideal for all applications, but that is a problem shared by most other spectroscopic 

methods. However, the sample chamber used by the CRDSs is much larger than the equivalent 

for PAS or FTIR methods. The engineering solutions for the aforementioned drawbacks are 

beyond the scope of this report, and the drawbacks themselves are minor when compared to the 

previously discussed success of the spectrometers.

Future work on CRDS would include possible engineering solutions to the minor drawbacks of 

the CRDS method, including ruggedizing the spectrometer and finding a more efficient way of 

cooling the detector. Work must also be done to generate a spectral library of airborne threats so 

that detection and identification of airborne hazards can be accomplished. Further work 

including detector optimization and miniaturization of system components should be considered 

as well.

Overall, the CRDS systems evaluated by ARL performed admirably with respect to the detection 

of trace levels of hazardous gaseous analytes. CRDS has a unique advantage over other infrared 

spectroscopy methods: the interaction path length for the excitation pulse in a CRDS experiment 

is on the order of 10 km. This advantage differentiates CRDS from other methodologies and 

allowed for the low limits of detection for the hazardous analytes discussed previously. CRDS

technology is a method that should be further investigated for the needs of the US Army for 

airborne hazard detection.
29

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ew=False

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databases for quantitative infrared spectroscopy. Applied Spectroscopy. 2004;58(12):1452–

1461.

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spectroscopy for trace vapor detection and molecular discrimination. Sensors.

2010;10:1986–2002.

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http://webbook.nist.gov
31

List of Symbols, Abbreviations, and Acronyms

α absorption coefficient

ARL US Army Research Laboratory

A.U. arbitrary units

c speed of light

cm–1Inverse centimeter

CRDS cavity ring-down spectroscopy/spectrometer

e number e

ECBS Edgewood Chemical Biological Center

ECQCL external cavity quantum cascade laser

FTIR Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

HgCdTe mercury, cadmium, tellurium 

I absorbed light intensity

I0 initial light intensity

l light travel distance

L loss factor for end mirrors

LGR Los Gatos Research, Inc.

N number of round trips

NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology

ODS Optical Devices and Sensors Team

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PAS photoacoustic spectroscopy 

PMT photomultiplier tube

PNNL Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
32

PVD photovoltaic detector

QCL quantum cascade laser

R reflectivity of end mirrors

REL recommended airborne exposure limit

σ standard deviation

SBIR Small Business Innovation Research

SEDD Sensors and Electron Devices Directorate

SNR signal-to-noise-ratio

T fraction of light transmitted through mirrors

t time

τ empty cavity decay time

TIC toxic industrial chemical
33

1 DEFENSE TECHNICAL

(PDF INFORMATION CTR

only) DTIC OCA

2 DIRECTOR

(PDF) US ARMY RESEARCH LAB

RDRL CIO LL

IMAL HRA

1 GOVT PRNTG OFC

(PDF) A MALHOTRA

5 DIRECTOR

(PDF) US ARMY RESEARCH LAB

1 RDRL SEE E

(HC) PAUL M PELLEGRINO

LOGAN S MARCUS (1 HC, PDF)

ELLEN L HOLTHOFF

GARY WOOD

LINDA BLISS

3 EDGEWOOD CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL CENTER

(PDF) RDCB-DRD-P

ALAN C SAMUELS

ERIN D DAVIS 

ANGELA M BUONAUGURIO
34

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