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We report on the development of an optical instrument based on incoherent broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (IBBCEAS) for simultaneous open-path measurements of nitrous acid (HONO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO) in ambient air using a UV light emitting diode operating at ∼366 nm. Detection limits of ∼430 pptv for HONO and ∼1 ppbv for NO were achieved with an optimum acquisition time of 90 s, determined by an Allan variance analysis. Based on a 1.85 m long high optical finesse open-path cavity, the effective optical path length of 2.8 km was realized in aerosol-free samples or in an urban environment at modest aerosol levels. Such a kilometer long optical absorption is comparable to that achieved in the well established differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) technology while keeping the instrument very compact. Open-path detection configuration allows one to avoid absorption cell wall losses and sampling induced artifacts. The demonstrated sensitivity and specificity shows high potential of this cost-effective and compact infrastructure for future field applications with high spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terahertz time domain spectroscopy and photomixing have been used alongside one another for the detection and the quantification of small polar species in mainstream cigarette smoke. The broadband submillimeter source used in time domain spectroscopy allowed a rapid and simultaneous detection of several pure rotational transitions of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) and carbon monoxide (CO) in realistic conditions of pressure and temperature. The spectral purity of the continuous wave terahertz source produced by photomixing, permitted the concentrations of these molecules to be measured at pressures of tens of hPa. Moreover, at lower pressure, traces of formaldehyde (H2CO) have been unambiguously identified at frequencies above 1 THz. A comparison with chemical analytical methods has been completed for each molecule highlighting the advantages of the direct measurement by THz spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]