The vast majority of gaseous chemical substances exhibit fundamental rovibrational absorption bands in the mid-infrared spectral region (2.5–25 μm), and the absorption of light by these fundamental bands provides a nearly universal means for their detection. A main feature of optical techniques is the non-intrusive in situ detection of trace gases. We reviewed primarily mid-infrared tunable laser-based broadband absorption spectroscopy for trace gas detection, focusing on 2008–2018. The scope of this paper is to discuss recent developments of system configuration, tunable lasers, detectors, broadband spectroscopic techniques, and their applications for sensitive, selective, and quantitative trace gas detection.

Remote chemical detection in the atmosphere or some specific space has always been of great interest in many applications for environmental protection and safety. Laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS) is a highly desirable technology, benefiting from high measurement sensitivity, improved spectral selectivity or resolution, fast response and capability of good spatial resolution, multi-species and standoff detection with a non-cooperative target. Numerous LAS-based standoff detection techniques have seen rapid development recently and are reviewed herein, including differential absorption LiDAR, tunable laser absorption spectroscopy, laser photoacoustic spectroscopy, dual comb spectroscopy, laser heterodyne radiometry and active coherent laser absorption spectroscopy. An update of the current status of these various methods is presented, covering their principles, system compositions, features, developments and applications for standoff chemical detection over the last decade. In addition, a performance comparison together with the challenges and opportunities analysis is presented that describes the broad LAS-based techniques within the framework of remote sensing research and their directions of development for meeting potential practical use.

Optical fringes constitute one of the major obstacles in the gas detection based on wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS). In order to suppress optical fringes, a convenient method of modulation index optimization was presented, using the signal-fringe ratio as a criterion. In addition to suppressing optical fringes, the optimized modulation index enables the detection of gas absorption. This method was demonstrated in a WMS based oxygen sensor. By comparing the sensor performances with and without the use of the optimized modulation index, we showed that the optical fringes are reduced by using the optimized modulation index; furthermore, the system stability and detection limit are improved. More specifically, the long-term fluctuation of the sensor measurement is dramatically reduced by a factor of 8, and a detection limit of as low as 120 ppm (with effective optical path length of 32 cm and integral time of 2.6 s), characterized by the Allan variance, was derived. This method can be applied in other existing WMS systems without the need for additional devices or complex algorithms and has the potential to be used in both laboratory and industrial settings.