Authors: Kevin K Lehmann
Publish Date: 2013/10/10
Volume: 116, Issue: 1, Pages: 147-155
Abstract
Giusfredi et al Phys Rev Lett 104 110801 2010 have developed a new approach to cavity ringdown spectroscopy where a saturable sample absorption is determined simultaneously with the cavity loss providing immunity to changes in cavity loss thereby allowing for lower analyte detection limit This paper presents an error analysis that provides predictions of the ultimate sensitivity limits that can be realized with this detection method In particular the sensitivity is strongly dependent upon the initial degree of saturation of the sample and optimal values for this are determined both for photon detector and shotnoiselimited detection of both inhomogeneous and homogeneous broadened spectroscopic lines Also presented are sensitivity limits expected for twophoton absorption spectroscopy determined by cavity ringdown spectroscopy
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