Photoacoustic spectroscopy

The subject of photoacoustic spectroscopy is reviewed. The basic areas of instrumentation (excitation sources, acoustic cells, and acoustic detectors) are described, and the specific advantages of various designs and techniques are discussed. Results are presented to highlight the applicability of photoacoustic spectroscopy to a wide variety of spectroscopic measurements. Applications include: linear absorption spectroscopy (vibrational and electronic), reaction kinetics, vibrational overtone spectroscopy, trace analysis, and nonlinear spectroscopy (multiphoton and stimulated Raman scattering). Special emphasis is given to photoacoustic Raman spectroscopy (PARS) and its application to gaseous trace component analysis.