Cavity ring-down spectroscopy of single and multiple aerosol particles

ANYL 185

Johanna L. Miller, johanna.miller@bris.ac.uk, Timothy J. A. Butler, tim.butler@bris.ac.uk, Svemir Rudic, s.rudic@bris.ac.uk, Rachael E. H. Miles, rachael.miles@bris.ac.uk, Jonathan P. Reid, j.p.reid@bristol.ac.uk, and Andrew J. Orr-Ewing, a.orr-ewing@bris.ac.uk. School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
Aerosol particles are recognized as having an important influence on the physical and chemical properties of a wide range of environments, including the Earth's atmosphere, sooting flames and plasmas. The optical extinction properties of aerosol particles, including both scattering and absorption of light, provide a means for their measurement and characterization. We have adapted the method of optical feedback cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) to make rapid (~1 kHz) measurements of single, ~1 µm diameter aerosol particles in air, and have developed new model treatments of the extinction of light by aerosol particles within an optical cavity to explain the outcomes. In addition, we have used CRDS to study well-defined trains of aqueous droplets to measure the dependence of extinction on particle size and composition.
 

Has Cavity-Enhanced Detection Come of Age?
8:30 AM-11:30 AM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Room 130, Oral

Division of Analytical Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006