Sensitive H₂ detection by use of thermal-lens Raman spectroscopy without a tunable laser

A new nonlinear Raman spectroscopy technique for trace-gas detection was proposed and demonstrated. The technique involved the use of a thermal-lens detection scheme to monitor thermal emission from the stimulated Raman process. We termed this technique thermal-lens Raman spectroscopy, and it was combined with a novel scheme involving a nonlinear Raman spectroscopy without a tunable laser. This technique was applied to detecting trace hydrogen molecules in the atmosphere by use of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser and a continuous-wave He-Ne probe laser. A detection limit of 9 parts in 10⁶ was attained.