20.02.2013 Views

download pdf - Institut für Umweltphysik - Ruprecht-Karls-Universität ...

download pdf - Institut für Umweltphysik - Ruprecht-Karls-Universität ...

download pdf - Institut für Umweltphysik - Ruprecht-Karls-Universität ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

2.1. TROPOSPHERIC RESEARCH GROUP 21<br />

2.1.3 Improvement of the Detection Limit of Active-DOAS-Measurements<br />

by use of fibre coupled light source<br />

Participating scientist André Merten<br />

Abstract Xenon-high-pressure lamps are commonly used in DOAS measurements. Unfortunately<br />

these lamps show strong spectral variability, which determines the minimum detectable optical density.<br />

A combination of a technical solution and a mathematical treatment to reduce the residual structures<br />

and therefore the detection limit was developed.<br />

Figure 2.3: Fibre light source prevents residual structures caused by a Xenon lamp.<br />

Background In active DOAS meausurements<br />

the minimum detectable optical density and thus<br />

the detection limit for trace gases are primarily<br />

determined by the spectral stability of the Xenonlight<br />

source. This is particularly important in<br />

spectral ranges where Xe-lines exist. Due to the<br />

large temperature gradient (several 1000 K/mm)<br />

and turbulent flow inside the arc these spectral<br />

structures strongly vary with time and across the<br />

arc of the Xe–high pressure lamp. When using<br />

a ’shortcut optics’, to remove this Xe-lines by<br />

a lamp reference, it is not guaranteed that the<br />

same area of the arc is imaged as is used in the<br />

measurement, causing strong residual structures<br />

which can be misinterpreted as optical densities.<br />

Imaging the lamp in a fibre and ’mode-mixing’ the<br />

light improves the situation, since all light leaving<br />

the fibre has the same spectral composition.<br />

Funding IALSI<br />

Methods and results After preliminary tests,<br />

a fibre coupled Xe-lamp was installed at the White<br />

cell (multireflection cell) at the EUPHORE smog<br />

chamberb (CEAM Valencia / Spain). Tests before<br />

and after the installation of this arrangement<br />

show a clear reduction of the residual structures<br />

and of the error in the concentration of detected<br />

trace gases. For a long path telescope it<br />

is even more complicated to run a short cut system<br />

that images the lamp arc in the same way<br />

as in the measurement mode, if the lamp is im-<br />

aged directly into the telescope. The Xenon-lamp<br />

was replaced by a Xenon-fibre light source, which<br />

was mounted at the optical axis of the telescope,<br />

instead of a Newton-like telescope set-up, which<br />

makes the complicate alignment of the telescope<br />

easier. Figure 2.3 shows the results of a DOAS<br />

evaluation of NO2 and H2O from the old (left)<br />

and the new (right) set-up. In the left graph<br />

strong residual structures dominate the fit-result.<br />

In the right graphs (new set-up with fibre source),<br />

only very small residual structures are visible and<br />

the detection of weak water absorption is possible.<br />

Due to the easier alignment, effectively no<br />

loss of light occurred. Xenon lamps show also a<br />

spectral drift with time. If it is not possible to<br />

take lamp spectra at short time periods, residual<br />

structures arise. Fortunately the spectrum of<br />

the lamp does not change randomly, which can be<br />

determined by correlation analysis of lamp spectra.<br />

A linear model can describe the variation of<br />

the lamp spectrum. This was combined with the<br />

DOAS-analysis. A change in the lamp spectrum is<br />

now treated like an absorber and can removed by<br />

the fitting procedure. The necessary mathematical<br />

functions were integrated in a new evaluation<br />

software, developed to perform an efficient DOAS<br />

analysis.<br />

Outlook/Future work Using fibre optics offers<br />

the possibility to work with other light sources<br />

such as LED and to design a new type of long path<br />

telescopes.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!