Photoacoustic and Photothermal Spectroscopy: Principles and Applications

Photoacoustic and Photothermal Spectroscopy: Principles and Applications introduces the basic principles, instrumentation and major developments in the many applications of Photoacoustic and Photothermal Spectroscopy over the last three decades. The book explains the processes of sound generation by periodic optical excitation and ultrasonic generation by pulsed laser excitation and describes the workings of photoacoustic cells equipped with microphones and piezoelectric transducers. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) is one of the fastest-growing imaging modalities of recent times. It combines the advantages of ultrasound and optical imaging techniques.

These non-invasive and non-destructive techniques offer many benefits to users by enabling spectroscopy of opaque and inhomogeneous materials, (solid, liquid, powder, gel, gases) without any sample preparation, and more.

• Written in a non-mathematical, simple-to-read manner
• Presents recent developments in the field, along with the scope of future progress, including up-to-date references
• Includes detailed illustrations, such as equipment layout, spectra, experimental setups, tables, photographs, and more

Surya N. Thakur is a retired Professor of Physics at Banaras Hindu University, India. He has taught courses in Physical Optics, Atomic Spectroscopy, Electronic & Vibrational Spectroscopy of Molecules, Spectro-Chemical Analysis, Lasers & Nonlinear Spectroscopy, Molecular Vibrations & Nonradiative Transitions and Experimental Techniques of Supersonic Molecular Beam Spectroscopy, Photoacoustic & Photothermal Spectroscopy, Optogalvanic Spectroscopy, and Raman Spectroscopy. He received his PhD in Experimental Spectroscopy from Banaras Hindu University and carried out postdoctoral work at Reading University, UK and SUNY Binghamton, USA. His interests are nonlinear spectroscopy, potential surfaces and nonradiative transitions in large molecules. He has held 1851 Exhibition Fellowship of the Royal Commission (London) and the Career Award of the University Grants Commission (New Delhi, India). He was President of the Physics Section of Indian National Science Congress in 1991 and is a Fellow of the Laser and Spectroscopy Society of India. He has over 100 research publications.

Dr. Virendra N Rai obtained his PhD in Physics from the Banaras Hindu University in 1983. He has specialization in Laser Produced Plasma, Plasma Diagnostics, Magnetic Confinement of Plasma, Laser Spectroscopy, Material Characterization, and Radiation effect on Material. Dr. Rai is an adjunct Professor (Hon.), Devi Ahilya University, Indore, since April 2018. Prior to this he was a scientific officer in Indus Synchrotron Utilization Division, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore, where he also worked as a scientific officer in Laser Plasma Division. He has guided 4 M. Tech students and 5 PhD students. He is Life Member of Indian Laser Association (ILA), Plasma Science Society of India (PSSI), Laser and Spectroscopy Society of India (LASSI), Indian Society for Radiation Physics (ISRP). He has over 150 research publications and he has been a reviewer of a dozen international journals.

Dr. Singh received his M.Sc. and PhD from Banaras Hindu University, India. His field of specialization is Laser Spectroscopy, Optical Fiber Sensors, Explosive detection, Molecular Dynamics, Laser Diagnostics for Combustion, Laser Ultrasonic and Hazardous Waste Management. Dr. Singh is currently working on laser-based advanced optical diagnostics such as Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for measuring the composition of the Plutonium Oxide residue produced during weapons-grade Plutonium processing. He has developed LIBS for measuring the concentration of toxic metals in the off-gases and in melt glass. Dr. Singh has worked in laser photo fragmentation laser induced fluorescence (PF-LIF) to measure the concentration of explosives. Dr. Singh has also developed Non-linear laser diagnostic techniques such as Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy for high temperature, high luminescence and turbulent combustion flows. He has published 165 papers in International Journals, 176 presentations and 8 patents. Dr. Singh is Fellow of OSA and LASSI.