Cavity-enhanced optical frequency combspectroscopy: Application to human breathanalysis

Broad-bandwidth, high-spectral-resolution optical detection of human breath has identified multiple important biomarkers correlated with specific diseases and metabolic processes. This optical-frequency-comb-based breath analysis system comes with excellent performance in all criteria: high detection sensitivity, ability to identify and distinguish a large number of analytes, and simultaneous, real-time information processing. We demonstrate a minimum detectable absorption of 8 x 10^-10cm^-1, a spectral resolution of 800 MHz, and 200 nm of spectral coverage from 1.5 to 1.7 µm where strong and unique molecular fingerprints exist for many biomarkers. We present a series of breath measurements including stable isotope ratios of CO₂, breath concentrations of CO, and the presence of trace concentrations of NH₃ in high concentrations of H₂O.
Udgivelsesdato: 02.05