Photoacoustic and Photothermal Spectroscopy: Principles and Applications introduces the basic principles, instrumentation and major developments in the many applications of Photoacoustic and Photothermal Spectroscopy over the last three decades. The book explains the processes of sound generation by periodic optical excitation and ultrasonic generation by pulsed laser excitation and describes the workings of photoacoustic cells equipped with microphones and piezoelectric transducers. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is one of the fastest-growing imaging modalities of recent times. It combines the advantages of ultrasound and optical imaging techniques. These non-invasive and non-destructive techniques offer many benefits to users by enabling spectroscopy of opaque and inhomogeneous materials, (solid, liquid, powder, gel, gases) without any sample preparation, and more. - Written in a non-mathematical, simple-to-read manner - Presents recent developments in the field, along with the scope of future progress, including up-to-date references - Includes detailed illustrations, such as equipment layout, spectra, experimental setups, tables, photographs, and more

Covers the advantages of using photothermal spectroscopy over conventional absorption spectroscopy, including facilitating extremely sensitive measurements and non-destructive analysis This unique guide to the application and theory of photothermal spectroscopy has been newly revised and updated to include new methods and applications and expands on applications to chemical analysis and material science. The book covers the subject from the ground up, lists all practical considerations needed to obtain accurate results, and provides a working knowledge of the various methods in use. Photothermal Spectroscopy Methods, Second Edition includes the latest methods of solid state and materials analysis, and describes new chemical analysis procedures and apparatuses in the analytical chemistry sections. It offers a detailed look at the optics, physical principles of heat transfer, and signal analysis. Information in the temperature change and optical elements in homogeneous samples and photothermal spectroscopy in homogeneous samples has been updated with a better description of diffraction effects and calculations. Chapters on analytical measurement and data processing and analytical applications are also updated and include new information on modern applications and photothermal microscopy. Finally, the Photothermal Spectroscopy of Heterogeneous Sample chapter has been expanded to incorporate new methods for materials analysis. New edition updates and expands on applications to chemical analysis and materials science, including new methods of solid state and materials analysis Includes new chemical analysis procedures and apparatuses Provides an unmatched resource that develops a consistent mathematical basis for signal description, consolidates previous theories, and provides invaluable insight into laser technology Photothermal Spectroscopy Methods, Second Edition will appeal to researchers from both academia and industry (graduate students, postdocs, research scientists, and professors) in the general field of analytical chemistry, optics, and materials science, and researchers and engineers at scientific instrument developers in fields related to photonics and spectroscopy.

A unique guide to the application and theory of photothermalspectroscopy. This book debunks the myth that photothermal spectroscopy is toocomplicated for practical application to chemical analysis, anddemonstrates the advantages this technique has over conventionalspectroscopy in facilitating extremely sensitive measurements ofoptical absorption in homogeneous media. The book covers thesubject from the ground up, lists all practical considerationsneeded to obtain accurate results, and provides a working knowledgeof the various methods in use--including photo acoustics andphotopyroelectric techniques. Bringing together a wealth of information that has been scatteredthroughout the professional literature, Photothermal SpectroscopyMethods for Chemical Analysis covers methods and information thatshould be known to every analytical chemist, including: * Descriptions of photothermal spectroscopy using a consistentmathematical language * Helpful examples from the literature of analytical applicationsand current research * Illustrations of all important points, consistent equations, andnumerous original figures * A discussion of laser technology and how it is used to obtainaccurate results from extremely small samples of a few molecules * Everything spectroscopists need to know to construct their ownapparatus and use it to conduct successful experiments * Tips on how to interpret experimental results effectively whenusing nonlinear processes and in many other situations inphotothermal spectroscopy * Considerations for further study of heterogeneous sampleanalysis * Unified nomenclature of the patchwork of terms used byresearchers in analytical and physical chemistry, physics, andoptical engineering * Equations that are derived with the aid of a symbolic languageprocessor to ensure correct results Photothermal spectroscopy has seen major advances since the adventof laser technology twenty-five years ago. It is now possible,using a laser's coherent and powerful output, to obtain extremelysensitive measurements of optical absorption that exceed those ofmass spectroscopy by two or three times, and produce accurateresults from only a few molecules. Focusing on samples in homogeneous media, this book provides aunique guide--incorporating theory and application--to allavailable photothermal spectroscopy techniques for chemical andmaterial analysis. It uses a systematic approach in itscomprehensive treatment of the theory, and covers all the necessarybackground material, from laser optics to fluid dynamics. This accessible text describes the various processes used to detectthermal perturbation of a sample, ranging from optical excitationto nonlinear processes, and covers all optical principles necessaryto understand photothermal spectroscopy. When dealing withhydrodynamic equations that govern energy transfer in the samplematrix, it provides an original impulse-response approach. Inaddition, the book explains how to construct the apparatus oneneeds to conduct successful photothermal experiments, sincecommercial equipment is not available as in conventionalspectrophotometry. Throughout, this book draws on information from a wide range offields, including analytical spectroscopy, measurement physics,physical optics, and chemical dynamics. Providing clearexplanations at every turn, the author demonstrates a completeunderstanding of the theory and applications as a firm basis forthe correct interpretation of experimental results. For analytical chemists, as well as for students at the graduatelevel, Photothermal Spectroscopy Methods for Chemical Analysis isan unmatched resource that develops a consistent mathematical basisfor signal description, consolidates previous theories, andprovides invaluable insight into laser technology.

Photothermal science continues to be an area of rapid development and active investigation, as is demonstrated by this volume. The various contributions present fundamental research in materials science, physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine, as well as important applications of photothermal techniques in nondestructive evaluation, aeronomy and pollution control, and other areas. The topics treated include measurements of spectral properties of gases, the theory of thermally generated elastic waves, a method of monitoring local surface displacements, materials characterization and nondestructive evaluation of materials, studies of the dynamics of primary photophysical processes, fast energy exchange at surfaces and at interfaces (e.g. in medicine and photobiology), thermal EXAFS and XANES applied to metals and semiconductors, and imaging of magnetic materials using microwave sources.

Review articles by leading scientists in their fields are brought together in this volume to provide a comprehensive treatment of photoacoustic, photothermal and photochemical processes at surfaces and in thin films. The articles introduce the fields, review present knowledge and conclude with latest developments and future prospects. Topics covered include laser-induced desorption, ablation and surface damage; surface acoustic waves; photothermal and photoacoustic characterization of thin films and interfaces; depth profiling in the frequency and time domains; remote testing and nondestructive evaluation; materials characterization; and new theoretical approaches using fractals. The book will interest newcomers to photoacoustics, since it gives an overview of current research and details of experimental methods. It will also be a source of information for those already in the field due to its clear presentation of theory and experimental results. All relevant literature references in this rapidly expanding field are included.

Thin Films for Optical Coating emphasizes the applications of thin films, deposition of thin films, and thin film characterization. Unlike monographs on this subject, this book presents the views of many expert authors. Individual chapters span a wide arc of topics within this field of study. The book offers an introduction to usual and unusual applications of optical thin films, treating in a more qualitative way general topics such as anticounterfeiting coatings, decorative coatings, light switches, contrast enhancement coatings, multiplexers, optical memories, and more. Contributors review thin film media for optical data storage, UV broadband and narrow-band filters, and optically active thin film coatings. Ion beam sputtering and magnetron sputtering deposition methods are described in detail. Characterization techniques are provided, including Raman spectroscopy and absorption measurements. The book also offers theories on light scattering of thin dielectric films and the electromagnetic properties of nanocermet thin films. This reference incorporates recent research by the individual authors with their views of current developments in their respective fields. Of particular interest to the reader will be an assessment of the historical developments of thin film physics written by one of the fathers of thin film technology, Professor M. Auwärter.

Gas-phase photoacoustics are treated comprehensively for the first time in this book. Review articles by leading scientists in the respective research areas introduce their fields, review present knowledge and conclude with the latest developments and future prospects. Topics covered include the theory of photoacoustics in the frequency and time domains, acoustic resonator models, a great variety of experimental setups and techniques, studies of spectrocopy and fundamental kinetic processes such as energy transfer and chemical reactions, and applications such as air and exhaust monitoring and trace gas detection in biology and agriculture. The book will interest newcomers to photoacoustics, since it gives an overview of the important directions of current research and detailed descriptions of experimental methods. It will also be a valuable source of information for those already involved in photoacoustic research due to its clear presentation of theory and experimental results. All relevant literature references in this rapidly expanding field of laser applications are included.

"a very valuable book for graduate students and researchers in the field of Laser Spectroscopy, which I can fully recommend" —Wolfgang Demtröder, Kaiserslautern University of Technology How would it be possible to provide a coherent picture of this field given all the techniques available today? The authors have taken on this daunting task in this impressive, groundbreaking text. Readers will benefit from the broad overview of basic concepts, focusing on practical scientific and real-life applications of laser spectroscopic analysis and imaging. Chapters follow a consistent structure, beginning with a succinct summary of key principles and concepts, followed by an overview of applications, advantages and pitfalls, and finally a brief discussion of seminal advances and current developments. The examples used in this text span physics and chemistry to environmental science, biology, and medicine. Focuses on practical use in the laboratory and real-world applications Covers the basic concepts, common experimental setups Highlights advantages and caveats of the techniques Concludes each chapter with a snapshot of cutting-edge advances This book is appropriate for anyone in the physical sciences, biology, or medicine looking for an introduction to laser spectroscopic and imaging methodologies. Helmut H. Telle is a full professor at the Instituto Pluridisciplinar, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. Ángel González Ureña is head of the Department of Molecular Beams and Lasers, Instituto Pluridisciplinar, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain.

Latest techniques for the analysis of plant cell or tissue structure and the registration of physiological pathways are topics of this volume. The subjects include: - Laser Doppler Vibrometer Measurements of Leaves; - Laster Physical Methods. Laser Microprobe Mass Spectrometry; - Triplet States in Photosynthesis: Linear Dichroic Optical Difference Spectra via Magnetic Resonance; - Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry; -Microdissection and Biochemical Analysis of Plant Tissues; - Photoacoustic Spectroscopy - Photoacoustic and Photothermal Effects; - Membrane Operational Impedance of Spectra of Plant Cell.