Faraday Rotation Spectroscopy (FRS)

 

We have developed a number of Faraday rotation spectrometer technologies for the detection of paramagnetic gas species such as O215NO and 14NO, and OH· radicals. Application of a magnetic field Zeeman-splits the rovibrational molecular states, inducing magnetic circular birefringence and causing linearly polarized light to rotate. Our techniques are capable of measuring polarization rotations of ~ 10-9 rad·Hz-1/2, yielding high-precision trace-gas measurements (parts-per-million to -billion levels). We have investigated a variety of measurement techniques (e.g. static magnetic fields, AC-modulated magnetic fields, dual-modulation schemes, and heterodyne Faraday rotation spectroscopy), with applications ranging from medical studies of human metabolism to nitrogen cycling in the environment.

 

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