PA201

Research photoacoustic gas cell for laser sources

Extremely versatile research tool
Includes the gas exchange module
Extremely easy to use

Gasera’s PA201 custom gas measurement system

Gasera’s PA201 is a gas cell with an integrated detector that can be combined with different types of laser sources, making it an extremely versatile research tool. It also includes the gas exchange module that makes it extremely easy to use.

This is a unique research tool that will immediately create data for novel research publications. Our customers have published many artcles with the help of PA201. For example, Tomberg et al have achieved detection limit at parts-per-quadrillion level for HF in this Nature publication.

PA201 is designed for laboratory measurements and it can be easily tailored for different types of light sources such as the near infrared distributed feedback laser (DFB), quantum cascade laser (QCL) and optical parametric oscillator (OPO).

Laser photoacoustic spectroscopy (LPAS) is highly attractive method for trace gas analysis due to the high sensitivity, linearity and low sample gas volume. Tunable laser sources provide high selectivity and high measurement accuracy due to the zero background nature of the measurement principle.

If you have new gas analysis application in mind that requires ultra high performance, Gasera’s PA201 is the right tool to start from!

Measurable gases include

CFCs and PFCs: CF4, C2F6, R13 , R-134a etc.
Corrosives (at low levels): HCl, HCN, HF
Hydrocarbons: CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6 etc.
Inorganics: CO, CO2, H2O, H2S, NO, NO2, N2O, NF3, NH3, SF6, SO2
VOCs: acetone, benzene, ethanol, formaldehyde, methanol, toluene, xylenes etc.

Specifications

Gas cell, stabilized to 50 Celsius temperature
Measurement pressure: between 300 mbar – 1000 mbar.
Patented ultra-sensitive optical microphone based on a MEMS cantilever sensor coupled with a laser interferometer to measure microscopic movement of the cantilever sensor
Specialised cell design for vibrational noise attenuation
Low gas volume (total gas volume of the system is approx. 30 ml)
Real-time DSP (digital signal processing) unit for providing an analog and digital output signal proportional to the cantilever movement. Analog signal is connected with BNC output connectors and digital signal uses USB.
Measurement software for data aquisition via USB
Three gas connections. The sample gas has two connections, one for input and one for output. The input is equipped with a particle filter.
Nitrogen purge for measurement compartment
The gas exchange procedure is user configurable by a simple user interface with display and buttons. The gas exchange can be started manually with a press of a button or the controller can be programmed to do it automatically using timer or an external trigger.
Documentation on the measurement principle and the DSP module
Documented instructions on how to use the PA gas cell and the DSP unit
Detection limit: Gas and light source dependent. Typically in the ppb -region with NIR diode lasers and ppt-region with MIR quantum cascade lasers.
Optical path length: 100 mm at optical axis
Repeatability: < 1 % of measured value in operational conditions at the calibration concentration (light source dependent)