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

使用激光作为一种传感方法允许一种非侵入式的测量形式。激光能够将光的集中和脉冲能量传送到表面上，然后将其转换为超声波以供检测。该研究项目旨在创建一种远程超声波技术，用于在具有挑战性的环境中进行化学过程监测。我们计划创建一个系统，在该系统中，光入射到液体或气体表面，被吸收以产生声波，然后可以观察所得波，以见证实时化学事件。在许多情况下，该应用程序将是有用的，例如在环境和生物医学应用中，需要在腐蚀性和灭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。应用将包括基于挥发性化合物的液体分化或测量抗体-抗原相互作用。其目的还在于创建一种机制，可以实时完成这一任务，这将允许远程超声波传感和观察诸如蛋白质结合之类的事件，采用通用且非破坏性的技术。最终设计将是一个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控。这将通过动态改变基于激光的系统的超声波响应来实现。

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.