Applications of cavity ring-down spectroscopy to high precision isotope ratio measurement of 13 C/ 12 C in carbon dioxide

Authors: Wahl, Ed¹; Fidric, Bernard¹; Rella, Chris¹; Koulikov, Sergei¹; Kharlamov, Boris¹; Tan, Sze¹; Kachanov, Alexander¹; Richman, Bruce¹; Crosson, Eric¹; Paldus, Barbara¹; Kalaskar, Shashi²; Bowling, David²

Source: Isotopes in Environmental Health Studies, Volume 42, Number 1, Number 1/March 2006 , pp. 21-35(15)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

Recent measurements of carbon isotopes in carbon dioxide using near-infrared, diode-laser-based cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) are presented. The CRDS system achieved good precision, often better than 0.2‰, for 4% CO 2 concentrations, and also achieved 0.15–0.25‰ precision in a 78 min measurement time with cryotrap-based pre-concentration of ambient CO 2 concentrations (360 ppmv). These results were obtained with a CRDS system possessing a data rate of 40 ring-downs per second and a loss measurement of 4.0?×?10 -11  cm -1  Hz -1/2 . Subsequently, the measurement time has been reduced to under 10 min. This standard of performance would enable a variety of high concentration (3–10%) isotopic measurements, such as medical human breath analysis or animal breath experiments. The extension of this ring-down to the 2 µm region would enable isotopic analysis at ambient concentrations, which, combined with the small size, robust design, and potential for frequent measurements at a remote site, make CRDS technology attractive for remote atmospheric measurement applications.

Keywords: Atmosphere; Carbon dioxide; Carbon-12; Carbon-13; Cavity ring-down spectroscopy; Infrared diode laser

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10256010500502934

Affiliations: 1: Picarro Inc., 480 Oakmead Parkway, Sunnyvale, CA, 94085, USA 2: Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 S 1400 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

Publication date: 2006-03-01

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• By this author: Wahl, Ed ;  Fidric, Bernard ;  Rella, Chris ;  Koulikov, Sergei ;  Kharlamov, Boris ;  Tan, Sze ;  Kachanov, Alexander ;  Richman, Bruce ;  Crosson, Eric ;  Paldus, Barbara ;  Kalaskar, Shashi ;  Bowling, David

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