Photoacoustic studies using a carbon dioxide laser
When radiation at 10.6 micrometer wavelength from a carbon dioxide laser is resonantly absorbed in a chamber, a temperature increase of the gas in the chamber results. The increase in temperature is by indirect means and depends on both the Chemistry and Physics of carbon dioxide. We determine the temperature change by measuring the increase in pressure of the gas of the chamber using a symmetric differential capacitive (SDC) sensor.
The first phase of this experiment has already been accomplished, since the department's high power laser is now operational (a commercial Apollo system).