Abstract
Radiocarbon () concentrations at a 43 parts-per-quadrillion level are measured by using saturated-absorption cavity ringdown spectroscopy by exciting radiocarbon-dioxide () molecules at the wavelength. The ultimate sensitivity limits of molecular trace gas sensing are pushed down to attobar pressures using a comb-assisted absorption spectroscopy setup. Such a result represents the lowest pressure ever detected for a gas of simple molecules. The unique sensitivity, the wide dynamic range, the compactness, and the relatively low cost of this table-top setup open new perspectives for -tracing applications, such as radiocarbon dating, biomedicine, or environmental and earth sciences. The detection of other very rare molecules can be pursued as well thanks to the wide and continuous mid-IR spectral coverage of the described setup.
- Received 17 May 2011
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.270802
© 2011 American Physical Society
Erratum
Erratum: Molecular Gas Sensing Below Parts Per Trillion: Radiocarbon-Dioxide Optical Detection [Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 270802 (2011)]
I. Galli, S. Bartalini, S. Borri, P. Cancio, D. Mazzotti, P. De Natale, and G. Giusfredi
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 179902 (2012)
Focus
Carbon Dating with Lasers
Published 30 December 2011
Infrared spectroscopy can detect trace gases and potentially provide an alternative carbon dating technique.
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