Tunable diode laser measurements of CH3OOH absorption cross‐sections near 1320 CM−1

Infrared absorption spectra and absorption cross‐sections in the C‐H deformation band of CH3OOH near 1320 cm−1 have been measured with a tunable diode laser spectrometer. Methylhydroperoxide concentrations in a slowly flowing gas mixture were determined by UV absorption. Peak absorption cross‐sections of the strongest lines observed were found to lie in the range (0.5 –1.5) × 10−18 cm² under near Doppler‐limited conditions. The dependence of the peak absorption cross‐sections on total air pressure in the range 2.5–90 torr was also investigated, and the possibility of CH3OOH atmospheric mixing ratio measurement with a tunable diode laser assessed.