In this paper, we describe the basic principles and system design of continuous wave cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CW-CRDS). We also particularly study the nature and the behavior of a novel method to detune a laser and apply it to a cavity ring-down spectroscopy experiment. Both simulations and experiments are completed on the relation between the transmission characteristic and different reflectivities, as well as scanning speed. Output electric field equation is deduced. It has been investigated that how photons are coupled to the cavity and how to accumulate the intensity and leak out of the cavity as a function of time. It is noted that both accumulation of intensity and decay times decrease, and the oscillation amplitude increases as the reflectivity increases. Relative intensity increases with decreasing scanning velocity. Additionally, the simulations show that a non-detuned cavity displays the transmitted signals which are highly dependent on the mirror reflectivity and piezoelectric translator (PZT) modulation speed. Simulations also display that the laser switching off is different from detuning.
