All Electronic THz Wave Absorption Spectroscopy of Volatile Organic Compounds Between 220–330 GHz

The rotational absorption spectra of important volatile organic compounds are characterized in the 220–330 GHz frequency band using a continuous-wave electronic THz spectrometer. Absorption spectra of a variety of pure volatile organic compounds are measured at controlled pressures, and the frequencies of the absorption lines agree with JPL's molecular spectroscopy database to within 30 MHz. The work presented here is a step towards size reduction of gas spectroscopy systems through miniaturization using standard silicon fabrication techniques, which would allow such systems to be used in the field for various industrial, environmental, and medical sensing applications.