Spectral analysis of H₂O near 7180 cm^–1 to accurately measure trace moisture in N₂ gas: evaluation of line shape profiles using Akaike Information Criterion

Abstract The absorption spectra of H2O in N2 gas were measured at atmospheric pressure and room temperature near 7180 cm–1 in the moisture range of 9.7–148.7 nmol mol−1 in mole fraction using cavity ring-down spectroscopy. The line shape profiles used for the spectral analysis for the trace moisture measurement were evaluated based on the Akaike Information Criterion as well as the fitting residuals. The optimal line shape profile in this study was the speed-dependent asymmetric Voigt profile (SDAVP). From the comparison of the fitting results calculated using the Lorentzian profile (LP) with those calculated using the SDAVP, the relative difference in the integrated line area between the two line shape profiles was found to be systematic and constant. The measurement error due to the use of the LP could be corrected using a correction factor of 1.00479 ± 0.00077.