Numerical study of geometrical effects on the performance of an H-type cylindrical resonant photoacoustic cell

We have numerically studied the geometrical effects on the performance of an H-type cylindrical resonant photoacoustic cell, composed of one resonator and two symmetrical buffer cylinders, by performing simulations on the generation of acoustic waves in the cell. Here, the acoustic response (pressure), resonance frequency and quality factor are calculated for the cell performance, while the lengths and diameters of both resonator and buffer cylinders are considered for the geometrical parameters or dimensions. Our calculation solves linearized forms of the continuity equation, Navier-Stokes equation, energy equation, and equation of state using a finite element method under an assumption that the heat addition due to the laser passage and thus the variations in the velocity, pressure and temperature fields inside the cell are small enough. First, we performed a statistical analysis using a design of experiment method to evaluate the relative impacts of the cell dimensions on the acoustic response. Subsequently, we performed a parametric study to quantify the cell performance with the dimensional variations. Our results, along with the response surface methodology, provide guidance for a systematic design optimization of the cell for the best acoustic response. The approach in this study may be applied to the design of various types of resonant photoacoustic spectroscopy devices.     

湿度和SF_6在石英增强光声光谱中对CO分子弛豫率的影响

为了研究六氟化硫(SF_6)气体分子和水汽(H_2O)对一氧化碳(CO)气体分子的弛豫率的影响,建立了一个基于石英增强光声光谱(QEPAS)技术的痕量气体传感器系统。采用1.57μm的近红外分布式反馈二极管激光器作为激励光源,并对不同SF_6和H_2O气体浓度下的CO的光声信号进行对比研究。首先用CO传感器系统探测CO与N_2的气体混合物中CO的光声信号,然后在CO与N_2气体混合物中加入不同浓度的SF_6气体,分别探测不同浓度SF_6气体下的CO光声信号强度。最后在CO与N_2的气体混合物中加入不同浓度H_2O,探测加入H_2O后的CO的光声信号强度。实验结果表明随着CO和N_2气体混合物中SF_6气体浓度的增加,CO的光声信号幅值几乎没有变化,而在混合物中加入2.5%的H_2O后,发现CO的光声信号提高了约5倍。因此,SF_6对CO气体的弛豫率没有明显的影响,然而H_2O的添加能够有效缩短CO气体的弛豫时间。     

基于半导体激光器的乙炔气体光声光谱检测及其定量分析

油中溶解乙炔是变压器等油浸式电气设备早期放电性故障的重要特征气体。基于半导体激光器的光声光谱传感技术具有灵敏度高,选择性好等优点,能很好地应用于微弱气体检测中。论文构建了基于分布反馈半导体激光器光声光谱检测装置,并分析了光声池的特性参数;实验研究了光声信号与激光功率、乙炔气体浓度之间的关系;并借助激光器的波长调制特性,研究了乙炔分子在近红外区第一泛音带1.5μm附近的光声光谱;提出了一种基于最小二乘回归的光声光谱定量分析方法。理论和实验结果为乙炔的光声光谱在线检测及高灵敏度可调谐光声光谱仪的设计提供了参考。     

Signal-to-noise analysis of biomedical photoacoustic measurements in time and frequency domains

Sensitivity analysis of photoacoustic measurements is conducted using estimates of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) achieved under two different modes of optical excitation. The standard pulsed time-domain photoacoustic imaging is compared to the frequency-domain counterpart with a modulated optical source. The feasibility of high-SNR continuous wave depth-resolved photoacoustics with frequency-swept (chirp) modulation pattern has been demonstrated. Utilization of chirped modulation waveforms achieves dramatic SNR increase of the periodic signals and preserves axial resolution comparable to the time-domain method. Estimates of the signal-to-noise ratio were obtained using typical parameters of piezoelectric transducers and optical properties of tissue.     

New photoacoustic cell design for studying aqueous solutions and gels

A new photoacoustic (PA) cell design, which is particularly suitable for investigations of liquids, gels, and outgassing samples is presented. The setup is based on a PA cell of only 78.5 mm(3) volume, which is sealed on the sample side with either a 163 μm thick chemical vapor deposition diamond window or a 3.91 μm thin diamond membrane. This design offers great advantages compared to traditionally used open-ended PA cells especially when investigating volatile compounds. The new PA cell design is particularly interesting in the studies of biological samples characterized by a high water content. The performance was demonstrated with mid-infrared PA measurements of glucose in aqueous solutions using a tunable quantum-cascade laser as a light source. A detection limit of 100?mg/dl (SNR = 3) has been achieved. Furthermore, the spectral changes of glucose dissolved in water caused by mutorotation have been monitored time-resolved.     

Novel optical method for background reduction in resonant photoacoustics

We report a new way of reducing the background originated by window absorption in resonant photoacoustics. The technique employs a secondary light source that is absorbed by the window but not by the gas sample. This auxiliary source is modulated 180 degrees apart from the one used to probe the gas. This way the window is heated almost uniformly during each cycle, thus lessening the associated background signal. We tested the scheme on a photoacoustic setup, conceived to measure NO(2), which is excited by an array of blue light-emitting diodes. Another array of near-infrared, light-emitting diodes served as the secondary light source. With the addition of this cancelling method, the detection limit was decreased to 4% of the previous reached without it.     

Method for measuring the resonant frequency of photoacoustic detector in the real-time mode

A method for measuring the resonant frequency of a photoacoustic detector (PAD) in the realtime mode in a wide temperature and gas-mixture-composition range is proposed. The method is based on measurements of natural frequencies of the resonance PADs, which are excited using an auxiliary acoustic emitter built into the PAD. The measurement procedure takes ≤0.1 s. When the PAD is filled with air or nitrogen, the high accuracy and reproducibility of the measurement results is experimentally shown. The relative measurement error of the PAD resonant frequency (~1700 Hz) is approximately 6 × 10^–5.     

Simple technique for obtaining photoacoustic spectra corrected for the spectral variation of the source in single scan

A simple technique is presented to obtain normalized photoacoustic (PA) spectra corrected for the spectral variation of the source in a single scan. The input light beam is passed through the center of a dual slot chopper, which splits it into two chopped output beams at two different frequencies at a fixed ratio. The beams fall on the sample and the reference kept side-by-side in the same sample chamber. The PA signals are detected by a microphone and processed by two lock-in amplifiers tuned at two different frequencies. The technique is tested by recording the PA spectra of standard samples.     

Note: a high performance pulse energy detector for Q-switched laser based on photoacoustic effect

A high performance pulse energy detector is developed based on photoacoustic effect. Different from the detectors reported before which also utilized photoacoustic effect, our detector can measure the energy of each pulse output from a Q-switched laser and monitor the pulse energy fluctuation in real time owing to the signal processing circuit designed. By comparing with a commercial laser energy meter, our detector is proved to be of high sensitivity and accuracy. We test the detector under illumination of different pulse energy at varied wavelengths, and the results demonstrate that the detector has a broad spectral response and a dynamical energy range. Besides, the measurements of this detector will not be affected by the background light according to the principle of photoacoustic effect.     

High-limit detection and accurate analysis of acetylene in transformer oil gases with a tunable laser-based photoacoustic spectrometer

Acetylene in transformer oil is an important feature gas, which can reflect early discharge faults. A tunable fiber laser photoacoustic (PA) spectrometer based on second harmonic modulation, with its fast response and good noise immunity, can be well applied to detect trace gases. In this work, the second harmonic PA measurement of the acetylene gas at the 1530.3709 nm transition line is demonstrated. An accurate analysis of acetylene in transformer oil gases is ensured by using an overcomplete-independent-component-analysis(ICA)-basis BSS model and a five-point-sampling method to improve the detection limit from 1.12 to 0.71 ppb. The experiment for detecting and analyzing acetylene in transformer oil gases shows that the discharge acetylene productivity can reach 303.72 ppb/s with a dynamic response time of less than 10 s, relative error of about 1.40%, and relevance coefficient up to 0.99946. At room temperature and atmospheric pressure, this can meet the demands of acetylene detection and analysis in early or ultra-early predictions of transformer discharge faults.     

Characterization of a derivative photoacoustic spectrometer

A design of derivative photoacoustic spectrometer is presented in this article. It mainly includes a wavelength-intensity splitter and a complementary chopper. In our design, a dual wavelength derivative method is introduced to implement a derivative operation. Through the wavelength-intensity splitter, two beams are obtained and then complementarily modulated by the complementary chopper to satisfy the first derivative requirements as well as to achieve the differential of photoacoustic signals. As examples, the first derivative photoacoustic spectra of He-Ne laser and xenon lamp are also presented in this article. The results show that the first derivative photoacoustic spectrum can provide a superior fine spectral structure and spectral resolution compared to the photoacoustic absorption spectrum.     

用于无创血糖检测的光声池设计与研究

基于光声光谱的无创血糖监测方法具有灵敏度高、特异性好等突出优势,其光声池发挥着至关重要的作用,主要表现在如何提供一个优越的光声转换环境和增强光声信号的作用。现主要以RG理论为基础,分别对两种光声池进行设计和研究,给出光声池的设计方法及其结构参数计算过程,并通过具体实验来检验光声池结构参数设计的正确性、实用性和可行性。这两种光声池一种是非共振双腔差分光声池,适用于固体检测;另一种是非共振单腔光声池,适用于固液体样品检测。     

基于负折射率声透镜的亚波长分辨率光声实时成像方法

基于负折射率材料的信号处理技术为光声图像的研究提供了新的思路。光声成像是一种全新的非破坏性生物光子技术,是一种基于生物组织内光吸收差异的成像方法。然而,当前的光声成像方法主要依靠传感器扫描工作,而传感器阵列有其固有的缺点,导致实时性较差,因此,普通的光声成像方式具有一定的局限性。但是,利用具有负折射率的声透镜特性(如聚焦、滤波、定向等)构成的成像方式可以解决普通光声成像中的这些局限性问题。本文在对负折射率声透镜的负质量响应和负折射率成像进行优势分析后,提出了利用声透镜改变当前扫描成像的方法。模拟分析实验结果表明,所设计的声透镜直接成像方案达到了预期效果,透镜成像后像点的声压分布与吸收体原始的声压分布基本一致。此外,0.6倍波长的实验图像结果说明本文实现了亚波长的光声成像效果。     

高精度光声光谱定量成像系统的设计与应用

冠状动脉内斑块的破损是引起急性心血管事件的主要原因。而对于斑块易损性的诊断,不仅需要掌握其形态特性,斑块的组成成分（尤其是脂质）、及其浓度的空间分布也是非常关键的信息。针对该需求,研发一套高精度的光声光谱成像系统,可以用于斑块成分的识别、分离、浓度定量分析,并在空间成像。与以往的研究相比,该系统通过透射式光声共焦的设计,大幅提高了系统信噪比,保证了光声光谱数据的精度;并且通过先光谱扫描,再移动样品的成像方式,保证了光声光谱与其空间来源对应关系的一致性;而结合多元曲线分辨的光谱解析算法,实现了样本中各成分的光谱分离和定量解析。对仿体和动物模型的试验,验证了本系统可以对脂质浓度的空间分布进行高效和高精度的成像。该系统的研发和试验,展示了光声成像技术应用于临床的极大潜力。     

光声光谱气体探测器的新发展

首先回顾了光声光谱仪的历史。接着介绍了光声光谱气体探测器的工作原理,讨论了近十年来出现的新颖的光源、微音器及光声池这三个光声系统中的主要器件,详尽介绍了其优缺点及适用范围。最后探讨了气体光声光谱探测系统的发展趋势。     

混合气体的光电检测系统

利用光吸收原理设计气体检测系统.为提高系统的灵敏度和准确度,设计用于提供光源的4 mA激励源电路、高响应的对比解调电路和三级放大加数字闭环的调理电路等硬件,开发数字滤波器、驱动程序和混合气体检测分析的软件系统,利用70 ppm的氨气与40 ppm的硫化氢混合气体进行检测实验.实验数据显示电压分辨率为10 mV,相对标准...     

Trace gas detection based on off-beam quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy: optimization and performance evaluation

A gas sensor based on off-beam quartz enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy was developed and optimized. Specifically, the length and diameter of the microresonator tube were optimized, and the outer tube shape is modified for enhancing the trace gas detection sensitivity. The impact of the distance between the quartz tuning fork and an acoustic microresonator on the sensor performance was experimentally investigated. The sensor performance was evaluated by determining the detection sensitivity to H(2)O vapor in ambient air at normal atmospheric pressure. A normalized noise equivalent absorption coefficient (1σ) of 6.2×10(-9)?cm(-1)?W/Hz(1/2) was achieved.     

Design and characteristics of a cell for photoacoustic spectroscopy of condensed matter

We describe a photoacoustic cell which is simple to use, easy to construct, and which gives a great sensitivity, expressed as a signal-to-noise ratio of 3000. Calibration of the cell indicates that it can be used with confidence as a general purpose photoacoustic cell.     

Development of a time-resolved attenuated total reflectance spectrometer in far-ultraviolet region

A far-ultraviolet transient absorption spectrometer based on time-resolved attenuated total reflectance (ATR) has been developed and tested for aqueous solutions of phenol and tryptophan in the region 170-185 nm. In this region, a stable tunable laser was not available, and therefore, white light from a laser-driven Xe lamp source was used. The time resolution, which was determined by the time response of a continuous light detector, was 40 ns. A new ATR cell where a sample liquid is exchanged continuously by a flow system was designed to reduce efficiently the stray light from the excitation light. We have tested the performance of the instrument by using aqueous solutions of phenol and tryptophan, whose photochemistry is already well known. Phenol and tryptophan have very strong absorptions due to a π-π? transition near 180 nm. Even for dilute solutions (10(-3) mol dm(-3)), we could observe decreases in their concentrations due to photochemistry that occurred upon their irradiation with a fourth harmonic generation laser pulse produced by an Nd:YAG laser. The sensitivity of the spectrometer was about 10(-4) abs, which corresponded to a concentration variation of 10(-3) mol dm(-3) for phenol and tryptophan.