Time-resolved studies of the interactions between pulsed lasers and aerosols

Finite element analysis modeling of pulse-laser excited photothermal deflection (mirage effect) from aerosols

A finite element analysis method for numerical modeling of the photothermal deflection spectroscopy of aerosols is presented. The models simulate pulse-laser excited photothermal deflection from aerosols collected on a plane surface substrate in air medium. The influence of the aerosol and substrate properties on the transient photothermal deflection signal is examined. We have previously obtained experimental results for photothermal deflection spectrometry of aerosols deposited onto a plate from an impactor system (O. O. Dada and S. E. Bialkowski, Appl. Spectrosc. 62, 1336 (2008)). This paper supports the validity of the experimental results presented in that paper and helps in answering some of the questions raised. The modeling results presented here demonstrate that the (peak) normalized transient temperature change profile and (peak) normalized transient photothermal deflection profile are a good approximation and invariant with number of particles, inter-particle distance, and particulate shape, which suggests that the photothermal deflection signal amplitude may be calibrated linearly with total mass of aerosols and the method could be applied to analysis of complex aerosols.

Development of infrared photothermal deflection spectroscopy (mirage effect) for analysis of condensed-phase aerosols collected in a micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor

The potential of mid-infrared photothermal deflection spectrometry for aerosol analysis is demonstrated. Ammonium nitrate aerosols are deposited on a flat substrate using a micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI). Photothermal spectroscopy with optical beam deflection (mirage effect) is used to detect deposited aerosols. Photothermal deflection from aerosols is measured by using pulsed infrared laser light to heat up aerosols collected on the substrate. The deflection signal is obtained by measuring the position of a spot from a beam of light as it passes near the heated surface. The results indicate non-rotating impaction as the preferred MOUDI impaction method. Energy-dependent photothermal measurement shows a linear relationship between signal and laser intensity, and no loss of signal with time is observed. The detection limit from the signal-mass curve is 7.31 ng. For 30 minutes collection time and 30 L/min flow rate of the impactor, the limit of detection in terms of aerosol mass concentration is 0.65 microg m(-3).

Product Screening of Fast Reactions in IR-Laser-Heated Liquid Water Filaments in a Vacuum by Mass Spectrometry

In the present article a novel approach for rapid product screening of fast reactions in IR-laser-heated liquid microbeams in a vacuum is highlighted. From absorbed energies, a shock wave analysis, high-speed laser stroboscopy, and thermodynamic data of high-temperature water the enthalpy, temperature, density, pressure, and the reaction time window for the hot water filament could be characterized. The experimental conditions (30 kbar, 1750 K, density approximately 1 g/cm3) present during the lifetime of the filament (20-30 ns) were extreme and provided a unique environment for high-temperature water chemistry. For the probe of the reaction products liquid beam desorption mass spectrometry was employed. A decisive feature of the technique is that ionic species, as well as neutral products and intermediates may be detected (neutrals as protonated aggregates) via time-of-flight mass spectrometry without any additional ionization laser. After the explosive disintegration of the superheated beam, high-temperature water reactions are efficiently quenched via expansion and evaporative cooling. For first exploratory experiments for chemistry in ultrahigh-temperature, -pressure and -density water, we have chosen resorcinol as a benchmark system, simple enough and well studied in high-temperature water environments much below 1000 K. Contrary to oxidation reactions usually present under less extreme and dense supercritical conditions, we have observed hydration and little H-atom abstraction during the narrow time window of the experiment. Small amounts of radicals but no ionic intermediates other than simple proton adducts were detected. The experimental findings are discussed in terms of the energetic and dense environment and the small time window for reaction, and they provide firm evidence for additional thermal reaction channels in extreme molecular environments.