Photoacoustic detection of gases using microcantilevers
Abstract
We describe a new technique for measuring the infrared absorption spectra of gases using atomic force microscope microcantilevers. This photoacoustic system is demonstrated for a dilute acetylene/helium mixture by recording the acetylene ν₁+ν₃ infrared overtone transitions using a wavelength modulated tunable diode laser as the infrared light source. The technique presents significant advantages over existing methods in terms of size, simplicity, speed and insensitivity to ambient vibrations. The maximum achievable signal-to-noise for resonant and non-resonant photoacoustic excitation of the microcantilever is examined and is found to be limited by the microcantilever's Brownian noise.
Copyright and License
© 2009 American Institute of Physics.
Acknowledgement
The authors are indebted to Dr. Rob Scholten for valuable discussions and for the loan of a diode laser controller and to the Australian Research Council and the University of Melbourne for supporting this research.
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Additional details
- ISSN
- 1089-7550
- Australian Research Council
- University of Melbourne