Optoacoustic (laser ultrasound) sensing for remote, chemical process monitoring

激光作为一种传感方法的使用允许非侵入性的测量形式。激光具有将集中的脉冲能量发射到表面的能力，然后这些能量可以转化为超声波进行检测。这项研究项目的目标是创造一种远程超声波技术，用于在具有挑战性的环境中监测化学过程。我们计划创建一种系统，其中光入射到液体或气体的表面上，被吸收以产生声波，然后可以观察到所产生的波来见证实时的化学事件。这种应用在许多情况下都是有用的，例如在环境和生物医学应用中，需要在腐蚀性和无菌环境中进行远程测量。最终的设备将能够在商业上与更复杂的基于光学的传感技术竞争。应用将包括根据挥发性化合物区分液体或测量抗体-抗原相互作用。其目的还在于创造一种能够实时实现这一点的机制，该机制将允许通过一种通用和非破坏性的技术对蛋白质结合等事件进行远程超声波传感和观察。最终设计将是一种基于激光的传感系统，能够对同时发生的多种化学事件进行实时过程监测。这将通过动态改变基于激光的系统的超声响应来实现。

The use of lasers as a method of sensing allows for a non-invasive form of measurement. Lasers have the ability of deliver a concentrated and pulsed energy of light onto a surface which can then be converted into an ultrasonic wave for detection. This research project will aim to create a remote ultrasonic technique for chemical process monitoring for use in challenging environments. We plan to create a system where light is incident onto a surface, either liquid or gas, is absorbed to create an acoustic wave, and the resultant waves can then be observed to witness real time chemical events.There are many situations to which this application would be useful such as in environmental and biomedical applications where a remote form of measurement is required in corrosive and sterilized environments. The final device will be able to compete commercially against more complex optical based sensing techniques. Applications will include the differentiation of liquids based on volatile compounds or measuring antibody-antigen interactions. The intention is also to create a mechanism that will accomplish this in real time which will allow for remote ultrasonic sensing and observation of events such as binding of proteins, with a versatile and non-destructive technique.The final design will be a laser-based sensing system capable of real-time process monitoring of multiple chemical events happening simultaneously. This will be achieved by dynamically changing the ultrasonic response of the laser-based system.