VCSEL was used to detect gas particles

Written by LEMON Photonics September 23, 2024

With the increasingly severe environmental pollution problem, the detection of gases and particles in the air has become an important part of environmental protection and health management. In recent years, Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) technology has shown great potential and advantages in the field of gas particle detection.

Application of VCSEL in the detection of gaseous particulate matter

Principle of optical sensing

The core of gas particle detection lies in the identification and counting of small particles in the air. As a light source, VCSEL plays a vital role in particle detection. The particle measurement technology based on light scattering method uses the laser emitted by VCSEL to irradiate the particles in the air, and the light scattered by the particles is received by the detector. The concentration and particle size distribution of the particles are analyzed by the intensity and distribution of the scattered light.
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Technological advantage

1. High precision and high sensitivity: VCSEL has a very high beam quality and a small divergence Angle, so that the laser can be accurately irradiated on the target particles, thereby improving the accuracy and sensitivity of detection. The narrow linewidth also reduces the interference of optical noise and further improves the accuracy of measurement results.

2. Non-contact measurement: The non-contact measurement characteristics of the VCSEL light source avoid the pollution and error that may be introduced in the traditional contact measurement, and are suitable for harsh industrial environments.

3. Real-time and fast response: VCSEL technology can realize real-time analysis and quickly respond to changes in the concentration of particulate matter (such as PM2.5) in the air, providing timely data support for environmental protection and health management.

4. High reliability and durability: The VCSEL laser is compact, durable, and insensitive to dust and sunlight, suitable for long-term stable operation.

VCSEL wavelength and power used

In the detection of gaseous particulate matter, the selection of wavelength and power of VCSEL has an important effect on the measurement results. Commonly used VCSEL wavelengths include 680nm, 795nm, 850nm, etc. These wavelengths have good scattering characteristics in air and are safe for the human eye. In terms of power, according to the needs of detection sensitivity and measurement range, VCSEL lasers with different power can be selected, usually between a few milliwatts and several hundred milliwatts. LEMON Photonics offers low power VCSEL laser chips.

Application example

In industrial production lines, VCSEL technology is widely used in the development of particulate matter sensors. For example, VCSELs with integrated photodiodes not only emit light, but also detect backscattered light, enabling accurate measurement of speed and distance through self-mixing interferometry (SMI). In addition, in iot applications, particulate matter sensors based on VCSEL technology can monitor fine particulate matter concentrations such as PM2.5 and PM10 in the air in real time, providing important data support for urban air quality monitoring and smart homes.
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Future development direction

With the rapid development of Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things, VCSEL has a broad development prospect in the field of gas particle detection. Through the improvement of wafer process and the optimization of packaging technology, the performance of VCSEL will be further improved, such as reducing the luminous point spacing and improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency. VCSEL technology will be applied in more fields, such as intelligent manufacturing, environmental monitoring, medical health and so on.

LEMON photonics VCSEL, as an advanced semiconductor laser technology, has shown great potential and advantages in the field of gas particle detection. Its high precision, high sensitivity, non-contact measurement, high reliability and durability make VCSEL an important tool for gas particle detection. With the continuous progress of technology and the continuous expansion of application fields, VCSEL will have a broader application prospect in the field of gas particle detection.