Possible uses of tunable diode lasers in infrared spectroscopy

The uses of semiconductor lasers that are tunable in the infrared wavelengths are discussed. A test was constructed to characterize the spectral and spatial properties of the laser emission from different diodes and high resolution spectra were measured for CH4, NO and NO2. Spectral interpretation shows the great advantage this technique holds in molecular spectroscopy. The semiconductor laser is found to be adaptable to difficult environments and capable of producing valuable information on reactions in combustive phenomena. Temperature and concentration are measured simultaneously in a well stirred reactor, from an absorption line plot. The data on this come from a CO line.