Abstract
Near-infrared laser spectroscopy is used to measure the 13C/12C isotope abundance ratio in gas phase carbon dioxide. The spectrometer, developed expressly for field applications, is based on a 2 μm distributed feedback diode laser in combination with sensitive wavelength modulation detection. It is characterized by a simplified optical layout, in which a single detector and associated electronics are used to probe absorptions of a pair of 13CO2 and 12CO2 lines, simultaneously in a sample, as well as a reference gas. For a careful investigation of the achievable precision and accuracy levels, we carried out a variety of laboratory tests on CO2 samples with different isotopic compositions, calibrated with respect to the international standard material by means of isotope ratio mass spectrometry. The 1-σ accuracy of the 13CO2/12CO2 determinations, reported in the so-called δ notation, is about 0.5‰ (including both statistical and systematic errors), for δ-values in the range from -30‰ to +20‰. We show that the major source of systematic errors is a consequence of the non-linearity of the Lambert–Beer absorption law, and can be corrected for to a very high degree of accuracy.
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42.62.Fi; 42.55.Px; 33.20.Ea
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Castrillo, A., Casa, G., Kerstel, E. et al. Diode laser absorption spectrometry for 13CO2/12CO2 isotope ratio analysis: Investigation on precision and accuracy levels. Appl. Phys. B 81, 863–869 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-005-1949-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-005-1949-4