Reinhard ,
In defense of LGR, we've just completed a week 
long deployment of their instrument in the field, 
continuously monitoring 12 grid points around an 
artificial CO2 ground leak (ZERT Project 
http://www.montana.edu/zert/).  This was 
facilitated by their new programable Multiport 
Input Unit ("multiplexer") that allows a single 
instrument to monitor up to 16 inputs in whatever 
sequence and duration you want.  Bottom line is 
that we got some beautiful Keeling plots, Keeling 
"wedges" actually because of the three source 
mixing: air, soil, and ground leak CO2.  Also 
some very interesting temporal variability. 
Anyway, no sure what your needs are, but i 
wouldn't ignore LGR.  Ian MacAlexander there has 
done a great job re-designing their instrument.
Regards,
Greg Rau


>We have recently received a Picarro instrument 
>(hello Picarro folks!). Its a very stable 
>machine, easily set up. Flow rates can be an 
>issue, but I think the Picarro is made for your 
>application. I recommend it. I looked at the 
>competitor and was less impressed (sorry folks). 
>That instrument was vibration sensitive, larger, 
>and seemed less stable.
>
>Good luck. Marilyn Fogel
>
>On Aug 3, 2009, at 6:59 AM, Reinhard Well wrote:
>
>>Dear all,
>>
>>my institute is  considering to purchase a CRDS 
>>instrument in order to analyse d13C of CO2 in 
>>gas samples from soil incubations. We are 
>>planning to connect the instrument to an 
>>automated microcosm system, where the analyser 
>>is needed to monitor d13C of CO2 in the exhaust 
>>flow from the microcosm which are continuously 
>>flushed with a carrier gas at approximately 20 
>>mL per minute. So the instrument must be able 
>>to analyse at such low flow conditions. As far 
>>as I can see there are two companies (Los 
>>Gatos, Picarro) offering instruments for real 
>>time monitoring of d13C of CO2. The question is 
>>which one would be preferable for our 
>>application?
>>
>>We would greatly appreciate any information to support our decision.
>>
>>Reinhard
>>
>>--
>>____________________________________________________________
>>PD Dr. Reinhard Well
>>Telefon: +49 (0)531 596 2535
>>Fax: +49 (0)531 596 2599 E-Mail:[log in to unmask]
>>
>>Adresse:
>>Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut
>>Bundesforschungsinstitut für Ländliche Räume, Wald und Fischerei
>>Institut für Agrarrelevante Klimaforschung 
>>Bundesallee 50 38116 Braunschweig Deutschland 
>>Web: http://*www.*vti.bund.de/de/institute/ak/
>>
>>address:
>>Johann Heinrich von Thünen-Institut
>>Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries
>>Institute of Agricultural Climate Research 
>>Bundesallee 50 38116 Braunschweig Germany Web: 
>>http://*www.*vti.bund.de/en/institutes/ak/