6. Glossary

Fabry-Perot cavity

The simplest optical cavity consisting of two mirrors facing each other and an amplifying medium

Chirped pulse or chirp

Non-stationary sinusoidal signal whose frequency varies over time.

Volatile organic compound (VOC)

An organic compound refers to any compound containing at least the element carbon and one or more of the following elements: hydrogen, halogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, silicon, or nitrogen, with the exception of carbon oxides and inorganic carbonates and bicarbonates.

Free induction decay (FID): free induction decay

Exponential decaying signal emitted by a system excited by a pulse.

Supersonic jet

Expansion of a gas contained in...