Ppb-level mid-IR quartz-enhanced photoacoustic sensor for sarin simulant detection using a T-shaped tuning fork

A ppb-level mid-IR quartz-enhanced photoacoustic sensor for the highly sensitive detection of dimethyl methyl phosphonate (DMMP) —the sarin simulant—is developed using a T-shaped tuning fork. The sensor employs a narrow-linewidth mid-IR quantum cascade laser (QCL) to target a strong, interference-free DMMP absorption band. A custom quartz tuning fork with 800-μm prong spacing is employed to avoid significant photothermal noise, thus removing the requirement for an optical spatial filter. The performance of the photoacoustic sensor was optimized in terms of exciting power, modulation frequency, and gas pressure. A minimum detection limit of 6 ppb was achieved at an integration time of 300 ms, which can be further improved to 0.45 ppb at the optimal integration time of 20 s •A ppb-level photoacoustic sensor for the sarin simulant detection was developed.•A large-gap-spacing quartz tuning fork was used to decrease noise.•A minimum detection limit of 0.45 ppb was achieved at an optimal integration time of 20 s.•The high selectivity of the sensor was verified in a real environment.