Nonlinear optical devices for oxygen concentration measurements

Optical diagnostics are currently used for measurement of gas concentration s in environment or in biological systems. Most of them use absorption or p hosphorescence spectroscopic techniques, or optical evanescent field-sensin g techniques. We present a theoretical investigation of the modifications i nduced by phosphorescence quenching on the properties of nonlinear optical devices. Oxygen measurements are considered in this study. Oxygen is shown to strongly modify properties of bistable devices, and self-pulsing regime exhibited by laser with a saturable absorber. This prospective work demonst rates that nonlinear optical devices are promising candidates to realize ve ry sensitive gas probes. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved .