Vapor-detection sensitivity as a function of spectral resolution for a single Lorentzian band

Abstract

The objective of this effort is to provide guidance for the determination of spectral resolution for the passive remote detection of organic vapors. Target bands were modeled as Lorentzian bands. Several sensor models were used, including a detector-limited sensor model and a background-limited model.

An expression for the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was derived, and the SNR was computed for an SF₆ target band. The results show that substantial gains in sensitivity are possible if the conventional laboratory spectral resolution of 2 cm⁻¹ is reduced to 8 or even 16 cm⁻¹.

© 1995 Optical Society of America

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