RESUMEN
Infrared ion spectroscopy is increasingly recognized as a method to identify mass spectrometry-detected analytes in many (bio)chemical areas and its integration in analytical laboratories is now on the horizon. Commercially available quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometers are attractive ion spectroscopy platforms but operate at relatively high pressures. This promotes collisional deactivation which directly interferes with the multiple-photon excitation process required for ion spectroscopy. To overcome this, infrared lasers having a high instantaneous power are required and therefore a majority of analytical studies have been performed at infrared free electron laser facilities. Proliferation of the technique to routine use in analytical laboratories requires table-top infrared lasers and optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are the most suitable candidates, offering both relatively high intensities and reasonable spectral tuning ranges. Here, we explore the potential of a range of commercially available high-power OPOs for ion spectroscopy, comparing systems with repetition rates of 10 Hz, 20 kHz, 80 MHz and a continuous-wave (cw) system. We compare the performance for various molecular ions and show that the kHz and MHz repetition-rate systems outperform cw and 10 Hz systems in photodissociation efficiency and offer several advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness and practical implementation in an analytical laboratory not specialized in laser spectroscopy.
RESUMEN
We demonstrate the usefulness of a nanosecond-pulsed single-mode mid-infrared (MIR) optical parametric oscillator (OPO) for photoacoustic (PA) spectroscopic measurements. The maximum wavelength ranges for the signal and idler are 1.4 µm to 1.7 µm and 2.8 µm to 4.6 µm, respectively, with a MIR output power of up to 500 mW, making the OPO useful for different spectroscopic PA trace-gas measurements targeting the major market opportunity of environmental monitoring and breath gas analysis. We perform spectroscopic measurements of methane (CH4), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ammonia (NH3) in the 2.8 µm to 3.7 µm wavelength region. The measurements were conducted with a constant flow rate of 300 mL/min, thus demonstrating the suitability of the gas sensor for real-time trace-gas measurements. The acquired spectra are compared with data from the HITRAN database, and good agreement is found, demonstrating a resolution bandwidth of 1.5 cm1. An Allan deviation analysis shows that the detection limit for methane at optimum integration time for the PA sensor is 8 ppbV (nmol/mol) at 105 s of integration time, corresponding to a normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient of 2.9×10-7 W cm-1 Hz-1/2.
RESUMEN
This publisher's note corrects an affiliation error in Opt. Lett.41, 4118 (2016)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.41.004118.
RESUMEN
A trace-gas sensor, based on quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy (QEPAS), consisting of two acoustically coupled micro-resonators (mR) with an off-axis 20 kHz quartz tuning fork (QTF) is demonstrated. The complete acoustically coupled mR system is optimized based on finite-element simulations and is experimentally verified. The QEPAS sensor is pumped resonantly by a nanosecond pulsed single-mode mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator. The sensor is used for spectroscopic measurements on methane in the 3.1-3.5 µm wavelength region with a resolution bandwidth of 1 cm-1 and a detection limit of 0.8 ppm. An Allan deviation analysis shows that the detection limit at the optimum integration time for the QEPAS sensor is 32 ppbv at 190 s, and that the background noise is due solely to the thermal noise of the QTF.
RESUMEN
Peri-implantitis (PI) is an inflammatory disease of peri-implant tissues, it represents the most frequent complication of dental implants. Evidence revealed that microorganisms play the chief role in causing PI. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the cleaning of contaminated dental implant surfaces by means of the Q-switch Nd:YAG (Neodymium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet) laser and an increase in temperature at lased implant surfaces during the cleaning process. Seventy-eight implants (titanium grade 4) were used (Euroteknika, Sallanches, France). Thirty-six sterile implants and forty-two contaminated implants were collected from failed clinical implants for different reasons, independent from the study. Thirty-six contaminated implants were partially irradiated by Q-switch Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm). Six other contaminated implants were used for temperature rise evaluation. All laser irradiations were calibrated by means of a powermetter in order to evaluate the effective delivered energy. The irradiation conditions delivered per pulse on the target were effectively: energy density per pulse of 0.597 J/cm2, pick powers density of 56 mW/cm2, 270 mW per pulse with a spot diameter of 2.4 mm, and with repetition rate of 10 Hz for pulse duration of 6 ns. Irradiation was performed during a total time of 2 s in a non-contact mode at a distance of 0.5 mm from implant surfaces. The parameters were chosen according to the results of a theoretical modeling calculation of the Nd:YAG laser fluency on implant surface. Evaluation of contaminants removal showed that the cleaning of the irradiated implant surfaces was statistically similar to those of sterile implants (p-value ≤ 0.05). SEM analysis confirmed that our parameters did not alter the lased surfaces. The increase in temperature generated at lased implant surfaces during cleaning was below 1 °C. According to our findings, Q-switch Nd:YAG laser with short pulse duration in nanoseconds is able to significantly clean contaminated implant surfaces. Irradiation parameters used in our study can be considered safe for periodontal tissue.