Sampaolo, AngeloPatimisco, PietroGiglio, MarilenaChieco, LeonardoScamarcio, GaetanoTittel, Frank K.Spagnolo, Vincenzo2016-09-302016-09-302016Sampaolo, Angelo, Patimisco, Pietro, Giglio, Marilena, et al.. "Highly sensitive gas leak detector based on a quartz-enhanced photoacoustic SF6 sensor." <i>Optics Express,</i> 24, no. 14 (2016) The Optical Society: 15872-15881. http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.24.015872.https://hdl.handle.net/1911/91632The implementation, performance validation, and testing of a gas-leak optical sensor based on mid-IR quartz-enhanced photoacoustic (QEPAS) spectroscopic technique is reported. A QEPAS sensor was integrated in a vacuum-sealed test station for mechatronic components. The laser source for the sensor is a quantum cascade laser emitting at 10.56 µm, resonant with a strong absorption band of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), which was selected as a leak tracer. The minimum detectable concentration of the QEPAS sensor is 2.7 parts per billion with an integration time of 1 s, corresponding to a sensitivity of leak flows in the 10−9 mbar∙l/s range, comparable with state-of-the-art leak detection techniques.engArticle is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.Journal articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.24.015872