Both the fundamental scientific and high-resolution gas measurement technology communities originated via tunable diode laser spectroscopy (TDLS).
We have accompanied lead salt laser technology for almost 20 years and made important contributions: increased reliability, demonstration of pulsed operation at room temperature, and the construction of DFB lasers based on lead salt technology.
The necessity of cryogenic cooling in single-mode operation has always hindered wide industrial use. Consequently, TDLS did not achieve its commercial breakthrough until used in the NIR range.