High-Pressure Millimeter-Wave Spectroscopy and Radiometry

Abstract

In 1990, Congress amended the Clean Air Act to phase in the requirement for all industries to continuously monitor airborne effluents for a range of environmentally unsound chemical species. This requirement sets the stage for the creation of better means for accomplishing the task. Millimeter wave spectroscopy, covering approximately 30-300 GHz of the electromagnetic spectrum, is a promising possibility as a means by which to analyze emissions for chemicals. The purpose of this report and project was to learn some of the theory behind millimeter-wave spectroscopy at atmospheric pressures and to use it to predict some specific results. The project was also experimental, so the equipment, testing procedure and results obtained are explained and the findings compared with those predicted. A short discussion on why this region of electromagnetic waves is useful in monitoring certain chemicals and some possibilities for future changes and research paths are included.