A trace gas sensor based on Rydberg excitations : a proof of concept study

Abstract

Sensitive and selective gas sensors become increasingly important for every day life. The gas sensing scheme proposed in this thesis is based on the excitation of Rydberg states in the molecule of interest. Subsequent collisions with the background gas and predissociation will lead to ionization of these highly excited states. The emerging charges are then detected and amplified. The occurrence of a current is an unequivocal indication of the presence of the molecule of interest.