Remote sensing of trace methane using mobile femtosecond laser system of T&T Lab

The mobile femtosecond laser facility T&T (terawatt & terahertz) of DRDC-Valcartier was used to detect trace methane gas remotely in an open field atmosphere during daytime (with strong sun light) using filament-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. Comparison of the results obtained in the laboratory and in the field validates the long range extrapolations of short distance results taken in our laboratory in the past. This could be considered a breakthrough for remote sensing based on filamentation.