Spectral analysis for photoacoustic pressure sensor designs: Theoretical model improvement and experimental validation

Abstract

In the pulsed laser photoacoustic (PA) detection and spectroscopy applications, the fundamental frequency of the PA signal produced, and the sensor resonance frequency should be as close as possible to each other so that analyzes from the obtained signals can be performed effectively. In order to determine the fundamental frequency of the PA wave, a theoretical model approach based on the development of the frequency domain solution of the PA wave equation is presented for use in the PA pressure sensor designs. For the validation of the theoretical model approach, a PA experimental setup was established, and measurements were made in distilled water. The theoretical and the experimental PA frequency spectra were determined to be very compatible with each other. Thus, the theoretical model approach was experimentally validated. According to the theoretical model approach, fundamental frequency values obtained from the experimental measurement results were determined with an average accuracy of ∓ 4.212%. Furthermore, it has been determined that this value has fallen to ∓0.267% in the measurements. With the obtained results from the theoretical model approach, we propose that the PA pressure sensors with the more selective and narrower band can be designed for the more sensitive detection. Moreover, in this study the effects of different laser parameters such that pulse duration, and laser beam width, on the spectral content of the obtained PA signal are analyzed. These analyses will shed light on the vision of acoustic pressure sensor design by helping to select the most optimum parameters for the PA detection.