B.I.Stepanov Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus offers consumers portable photoacoustic methane detectors for continuous registration of low concentrations of methane from air under a manufacturing agreement and is looking for partners interested in a distribution services agreement.

B.I.Stepanov Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus offers consumers portable photoacoustic methane detectors, designed for continuous registration of low concentrations of methane from air.

Principle of action of detector is based on method of infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy, which consists in exciting acoustic vibrations in a gas when it absorbs electromagnetic radiation. A single-mode thermoregulated laser diode with distributed feedback was used as a radiation source, generation frequency of which corresponds to spectral absorption lines of methane. Wavelength of the laser is adjusted near one of lines using low-amplitude modulation of diode pump current. Modulation frequency corresponds to half frequency of one of acoustic resonances of a photoacoustic chamber filled with a gaseous medium with an admixture of methane. Acoustic waves arising in gas during radiation absorption are recorded using an electret microphone at resonance frequency of a photoacoustic camera. Magnitude of acoustic signal directly determines concentration of methane in chamber.

Developed detector is portable, capable of continuous measurements, including in motion, and also has the ability to remotely monitor long-term autonomous operation.

Methane detector has following key features:
* autonomy;
* high selectivity;
* fast response time;
* high measurement accuracy;
* wide dynamic range;
* small size and light weight;
* portable and compact design;
* long-term reliability and stability of operation;
* low cost of manufacturing and operation.

Specifications:

Minimum gas sample volume required for measurement, cm3	≤ 1
Sensitivity of methane concentration measurements, %	≥ 3

Application areas:
* mining and chemical industry;
* ecological monitoring of methane receipts into atmosphere from various biological objects.

B.I.Stepanov Institute of Physics offers partners:
* portable photoacoustic methane detectors for continuous registration of low concentrations of methane from air under a manufacturing agreement;
* portable photoacoustic methane detectors for continuous registration of low concentrations of methane from air under a distribution services agreement.

The Institute also manufactures ammonia detectors and gas analyzers for various chemical compounds.

Catalog «Developments of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus of the world level for the period 2020-2022», pp.129-131 (in Russian).

The developed methane detector has characteristics that are not inferior to the best world analogs from companies:
«Thorlabs, Inc.» (USA);
«AP2E» (France).

Ulasevich, A. L., Gorelik, A.V., Kouzmouk, A. A., Starovoitov, V. S. A compact resonant Π-shaped photoacoustic cell with low window background for gas sensing / A. L. Ulasevich, A.V. Gorelik, A. A. Kouzmouk, V. S. Starovoitov // Applied Physics B. – 2014. – vol 117. – pp. 549-561.

Ulasevich, A. L., Kuzmak, A. A. Photoacoustic gas sensor based on tunable diodelasers / A. L. Ulasevich, A. A. Kouzmouk // Journal. butt. spectroscopy. – 2016. – No. 6-16. – p. 652.

Ulasevich, A. L., Kuzmuk, A. A. Remote inexpensive laser detector of water vapor / A. L. Ulasevich, A. A. Kuzmuk // Quantum electronics: materials of the XII International Scientific and Technical Conf., Minsk, November 18-22. 2019 – p. 219.

The B.I. Stepanov Institute of Physics is the leading interdisciplinary research institution in the field of physics in the Republic of Belarus.The directions of scientific research and development of the Institute are currently:
* Laser physics, development and creation of laser systems and technologies for medicine, ecology, industry, metrology and information protection;
* Physical and nonlinear optics, the disclosure and use of the patterns of propagation of high-power laser radiation in various media;
* Optical spectroscopy, development and application of methods and instruments for studying the properties and structure of various materials, including biotissues;
* Nanooptics and Nanomaterials;
* Quantum optics, investigation of quantum properties of electromagnetic radiation in computer science and cryptography;
* Investigation of the structure and properties of atomic-molecular structures and the creation of new optical materials, systems, instruments and technologies on this base;
* Plasma physics and plasma technologies: investigation of the plasma interaction with fields and matter; development and application of methods for plasma diagnostics, development of technological applications of gas-discharge and laser plasma
* Micro- and optoelectronics: LED technology, solar cells, microwave technology, microelectromechanical and sensor systems and devices;
* Physics of Fundamental Interactions and Nuclear Reactions - Investigating the Structure of the Microcosm and the Universe.

The B.I. Stepanov Institute of Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has scientific contacts with many countries. At present, more than 50 agreements on scientific and technical cooperation have been signed with organizations from 15 countries.

The Institute develops, manufactures and supplies laser and optical instruments for various purposes, as well as innovative components for laser technology, to many countries of the world (Russia, China, Germany, France, the United States, Saudi Arabia, India, etc.).

Consumers interested in purchasing portable photoacoustic methane detectors for continuous registration of low concentrations of methane from air under a manufacturing agreement.

Partners interested in purchasing portable photoacoustic methane detectors for continuous registration of low concentrations of methane from air under a distribution services agreement.