Calibration-free wavelength modulation spectroscopy: symmetry approach and residual amplitude modulation normalization.

This paper offers a simple, practical strategy to implement wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) with a tunable diode laser. It eliminates the need to pre-characterize the laser intensity parameters or make any design changes to a conventional WMS system. Consequently, sensitivity and signal strength remain the same as what can be obtained from a traditional WMS setup at low modulation amplitude. Like previously proposed calibration-free approaches, this new method also yields an absolute absorption line shape function. To recover residual amplitude modulation (RAM) contributions present in the first and second harmonic signals of WMS, we exploited their even or odd symmetric nature. We then used these isolated RAM signals to estimate the absolute line shape function, thus removing the impact of optical intensity fluctuations on measurement. We have also discussed uncertainties and noises associated with the estimated absolute line shape function and the applicability of this new method to detect several gases in the near infrared region. We used measurements of the 1650.96 nm absorption line for 1% and 8% methane concentration in the 60-100 kPa pressure range to validate the efficacy of this new RAM recovery technique and demonstrated a calibration-free system. Because this approach has minimal dependency on diode laser operating conditions, it is more robust and suitable for harsh industrial environments.