An optical pascal in Sweden

Abstract

Abstract By measuring the refractivity and the temperature of a gas, its pressure can be assessed from fundamental principles. The highest performing instruments are based on Fabry–Perot cavities where a laser is used to probe the frequency of a cavity mode, which is shifted in relation to the refractivity of the gas in the cavity. Recent activities have indicated that such systems can demonstrate an extended uncertainty in the 10 ppm (parts-per-million or 10−6) range. As a means to reduce the influence of various types of disturbances (primarily drifts and fluctuations) a methodology based on modulation, denoted gas modulation refractometry (GAMOR), has recently been developed. Systems based on this methodology are in general high-performance, e.g. they have demonstrated precision in the sub-ppm range, and they are sturdy. They can also be made autonomous, allowing for automated and unattended operation for virtually infinite periods of time. To a large degree, the development of such instruments depends on the access to modern photonic components, e.g. narrow line-width lasers, electro- and acousto-optic components, and various types of fiber components. This work highlights the role of such modern devices in GAMOR-based instrumentation and provides a review on the recent development of such instruments in Sweden that has been carried out in a close collaboration between a research institute and the Academy. It is shown that the use of state-of-the-art photonic devices allows sturdy, automated and miniaturized instrumentation that, for the benefit of industry, can serve as standards for pressure and provide fast, unattended, and calibration-free pressure assessments at a fraction of the present cost.