Detection of Carbon Dioxide in Air Using Difference-Frequency Generation Based Infrared Spectrometer

Spectroscopic detection of carbon dioxide (CO2) in ambient air was performed using a continuous-wave mid-infrared spectrometer based on difference-frequency generation in an AgGaS2 crystal. Significant improvement in nonlinear optical frequency conversion efficiency was achieved by Gaussian beam optical design consideration. CO2 concentration was determined from direct-absorption spectral measurement.