Fast and sensitive time-multiplexed gas sensing of multiple lines using a miniature telecom diode laser between 1529 nm and 1565 nm

High-sensitive multi-species detection around 1550 nm using a modulated grating Y-branch, MG-Y, diode laser tunable between 1529 nm and 1565 nm is presented. The MG-Y diode laser is based on the Vernier effect of two modulated gratings, and exhibits quasi-continuous tuning over 36 nm. Multi-species detection is achieved by fast sequential scanning of single absorption lines of CH₄, CO, C₂H₂, and CO₂ distributed over the tuning range of the diode laser. The laser wavelength is scanned about 10 GHz around each absorption line for 5 ms and this is followed by a discrete large jump in operating wavelength to the next line. The MG-Y diode laser has a good repeatability in output frequency between sequential scan segments (<10 MHz) enabling averaging of the scans. The setup employs digital wavelength modulation spectroscopy, dWMS, with Fourier-based WMS retrieval, applicable through the use of data acquisition cards and coherent sampling. Absorbance sensitivity using 2f-WMS signals of 7×10⁻⁷ in 30 s (all precisions in this paper are at the 1σ level) is demonstrated for sensing of four gases and 2×10⁻⁷ when only one gas is detected. Corresponding numbers for 0.5 s of averaging are 4×10⁻⁶ and 1×10⁻⁶.