Mid-infrared methane detection in a photonic bandgap fiber using a broadband optical parametric oscillator

We demonstrate methane sensing using a photonic bandgap fiber-based gas cell and broadband idler pulses from a periodically-poled lithium niobate femtosecond optical parametric oscillator. The hollow core of the fiber was filled with a methane:nitrogen mixture, and Fourier transform spectroscopy was used to measure transmission spectra in the 3.15-3.35 µm methane absorption region. The method has applications in gas sensing for remote or hazardous environments and potentially at very low concentrations. © 2007 Optical Society of America.