Photoacoustic spectroscopy with SF6, an optically thick greenhouse gas

Photoacoustic spectroscopy was used to test the photoacoustic properties of sulfur hexafluoride, an optically thick and a potent greenhouse gas. Detection of trace amounts of the gas was also implemented. The conditions in which the gas was tested, gas cell length, temperature, concentration, and power of the laser, were varied to determine their effect on the photoacoustic signal, and the ideal conditions to detect trace gas amounts. A detection limit of 2.86 ppb was determined for SF6.