Revolutionary Accuracy in waVeguide- and photoacoustic-ENabled atmospheric sensors (RAVEN)

ongoing

Anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and deteriorating air quality are driving climate change and severely impacting human and ecosystem health, respectively. To combat these issues, new and more stringent green regulations are being implemented globally, which existing air monitoring systems are not well equipped to handle. Currently available commercial sensors are expensive, bulky, and frequently require shelter and power from the mains. Field performance also often falls lower than required due to high signal noise and drift. Consequently, there is a need for new air pollution and GHG monitoring systems that offer improved sensitivity, precision, and accuracy while also being inexpensive, compact, and energy efficient. RAVEN will develop the next generation of gas sensing systems, consisting of two miniaturised gas sensors implementing cutting-edge PIC technology, one in the VIS-SWIR range and one in the MIR range. These sensors will work in tandem across a broad wavelength range (600-3000 nm) to measure concentrations of multiple pollutants and GHGs, including CO2, CO, O3, CH4, N2O, CH3OH, NH3, NO2 in 1-25 ppb LOD range. The sensors will leverage cutting-edge science, including developing a high-power compact dual-supercontinuum source on a chip and on-chip data analysis using a quantum-inspired approach for improved LOD and selectivity of gases and to satisfy the performance, power consumption, size, and cost requirements of end users. RAVEN will offer an unparalleled, high-performance multi-sensing solution that can be packaged into a single near-universally applicable miniaturised system. The implementation of RAVEN technology will provide Europe with the necessary resources to ensure compliance with the EU Green Deal and enhance the photonic technology capabilities of the EU.