We demonstrate proof-of-principle carbon dioxide (CO₂) sensing at 2.05μm wavelength using a commercial infrared superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD). We verify the absorption peaks within the tuning range of the illumination source and perform a differential measurement within one of these peaks to detect a changing concentration of carbon dioxide within a gas cell. We demonstrate that SNSPDs are a promising enabling technology for short wave and mid wave infrared gas remote sensing.

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Ewan N. MacKenzie, Theodor Staffas, Val Zwiller, and Robert H. Hadfield, "Photon counting carbon dioxide gas sensing at 2.05μm wavelength," Proc. SPIE 12570, Quantum Optics and Photon Counting 2023, 1257009 (Presented at SPIE Optics + Optoelectronics: April 27, 2023; Published: 6 June 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2669496.