Title: Construction of a low-cost laser-based multiplexed spectrometer: a potential probe for environmental pollution monitoring

Authors: Soumendra Singh; Biswanath Saha; Sudarson Sekhar Sinha; Samir Kumar Pal

Addresses: Unit for Nano Science & Technology, S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Department of Chemical, Biological and Macromolecular Sciences, Block JD, Sector III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 098, India. ' Unit for Nano Science & Technology, S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Department of Chemical, Biological and Macromolecular Sciences, Block JD, Sector III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 098, India. ' Unit for Nano Science & Technology, S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Department of Chemical, Biological and Macromolecular Sciences, Block JD, Sector III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 098, India. ' Unit for Nano Science & Technology, S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences, Department of Chemical, Biological and Macromolecular Sciences, Block JD, Sector III, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 098, India; Noyes Laboratory of Chemical Physics, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA

Abstract: A low-cost, sensitive, laser-based (Helium Neon; He-Ne) optical Fourier-transformed (multiplexed) spectrometer has been constructed for the quantification of suspended particulates in the air. The optomechanical features of the spectrometer are presented together with a theoretical framework of its operation. The apparatus is calibrated by using a standard commercial spectrophotometer and has been successfully used to detect smoke of various densities. The simplicity in the design of the apparatus and sensitivity in its measurement would expectedly attract high school and college students and definitely help to spread the awareness of environmental pollution among younger generation.

Keywords: laser spectrometers; optical instruments; low-cost design; environmental pollution measurement; multiplexed spectrometers; pollution monitoring; spectrometer design; smoke detection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2012.046400

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2012 Vol.9 No.3/4, pp.388 - 395

Published online: 13 Dec 2014 *

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