Reconstruction and fitting of second-harmonic signals by wavelength modulation spectroscopy method based on fast Fourier transform

Conventional wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) is vulnerable to the influence of low-frequency noise. Accuracy of the method highly depends on the performance of the costly lock-in amplifier. In this article, we report a new and effective method for reconstructing second-harmonic signals through WMS based on fast Fourier transform (FFT). This method is less disturbed by low-frequency noise because it does not use a low-frequency ramp wave. Formulation and detection procedures were presented. The discrete second-harmonic waveform can be obtained by continuously changing the DC signal and FFT analysis in this method. Second-harmonic waveforms acquired by the two means are generally consistent. The experimental study validates the obtained gas concentration from 5% to 30%, showing a good linear relationship by the proposed method. The maximum relative error on concentration extraction is 2.87%; as for conventional WMS, this value is 4.50%. The developed measurement method may have potential in computed tomography.