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Journal ArticleDOI

Applications of photoacoustic sensing techniques

Andrew C. Tam1
01 Apr 1986-Reviews of Modern Physics (American Physical Society)-Vol. 58, Iss: 2, pp 381-431
TL;DR: In this article, the theory and applications of photo-acoustic (also called optoacoustic) methods belonging to the more general area of photothermal measurement techniques are reviewed, covering excitation of gaseous or condensed samples with modulated continuous light beams or pulsed light beams.
Abstract: This paper reviews the theory and applications of photoacoustic (also called optoacoustic) methods belonging to the more general area of photothermal measurement techniques. The theory covers excitation of gaseous or condensed samples with modulated continuous light beams or pulsed light beams. The applications of photoacoustic methods include spectroscopy, monitoring deexcitation processes, probing physical properties of materials, and generating mechanical motions. Several other related photothermal methods, as well as particle-acoustics and wave-acoustics methods are also described. This review complements an earlier and narrower review [Rev. Mod. Phys. 53, 517 (1981)] that is mainly concerned with sensitive detection by pulsed photoacoustic spectroscopy in condensed matter.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of the rapidly expanding field of photoacoustic imaging for biomedical applications can be found in this article, where a number of imaging techniques, including depth profiling in layered media, scanning tomography with focused ultrasonic transducers, image forming with an acoustic lens, and computed tomography using unfocused transducers are introduced.
Abstract: Photoacoustic imaging (also called optoacoustic or thermoacoustic imaging) has the potential to image animal or human organs, such as the breast and the brain, with simultaneous high contrast and high spatial resolution. This article provides an overview of the rapidly expanding field of photoacoustic imaging for biomedical applications. Imaging techniques, including depth profiling in layered media, scanning tomography with focused ultrasonic transducers, image forming with an acoustic lens, and computed tomography with unfocused transducers, are introduced. Special emphasis is placed on computed tomography, including reconstruction algorithms, spatial resolution, and related recent experiments. Promising biomedical applications are discussed throughout the text, including (1) tomographic imaging of the skin and other superficial organs by laser-induced photoacoustic microscopy, which offers the critical advantages, over current high-resolution optical imaging modalities, of deeper imaging depth and higher absorptioncontrasts, (2) breast cancerdetection by near-infrared light or radio-frequency–wave-induced photoacoustic imaging, which has important potential for early detection, and (3) small animal imaging by laser-induced photoacoustic imaging, which measures unique optical absorptioncontrasts related to important biochemical information and provides better resolution in deep tissues than optical imaging.

2,343 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It was found that the structure and morphology also affect the energy transport among tissue constituents and therefore the ablation efficiency of biological tissues is increased.
Abstract: Author(s): Vogel, Alfred; Venugopalan, Vasan | Abstract: The mechanisms of pulsed laser ablation of biological tissues were studied. The transiently empty space created between the fiber tip and the tissue surface improved the optical transmission to the target and thus increased the ablation efficiency. It was found that the structure and morphology also affect the energy transport among tissue constituents.

1,861 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The underlying physical principles of the technique, its practical implementation, and a range of clinical and preclinical applications are reviewed.
Abstract: Photoacoustic (PA) imaging, also called optoacoustic imaging, is a new biomedical imaging modality based on the use of laser-generated ultrasound that has emerged over the last decade. It is a hybrid modality, combining the high-contrast and spectroscopic-based specificity of optical imaging with the high spatial resolution of ultrasound imaging. In essence, a PA image can be regarded as an ultrasound image in which the contrast depends not on the mechanical and elastic properties of the tissue, but its optical properties, specifically optical absorption. As a consequence, it offers greater specificity than conventional ultrasound imaging with the ability to detect haemoglobin, lipids, water and other light-absorbing chomophores, but with greater penetration depth than purely optical imaging modalities that rely on ballistic photons. As well as visualizing anatomical structures such as the microvasculature, it can also provide functional information in the form of blood oxygenation, blood flow and temperature. All of this can be achieved over a wide range of length scales from micrometres to centimetres with scalable spatial resolution. These attributes lend PA imaging to a wide variety of applications in clinical medicine, preclinical research and basic biology for studying cancer, cardiovascular disease, abnormalities of the microcirculation and other conditions. With the emergence of a variety of truly compelling in vivo images obtained by a number of groups around the world in the last 2–3 years, the technique has come of age and the promise of PA imaging is now beginning to be realized. Recent highlights include the demonstration of whole-body small-animal imaging, the first demonstrations of molecular imaging, the introduction of new microscopy modes and the first steps towards clinical breast imaging being taken as well as a myriad of in vivo preclinical imaging studies. In this article, the underlying physical principles of the technique, its practical implementation, and a range of clinical and preclinical applications are reviewed.

1,793 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a universal back-projection algorithm for three-dimensional photoacoustic computed tomography is presented for three types of imaging geometries: planar, spherical, and cylindrical surfaces.
Abstract: We report results of a reconstruction algorithm for three-dimensional photoacoustic computed tomography. A universal back-projection formula is presented for three types of imaging geometries: planar, spherical, and cylindrical surfaces. A solid-angle weighting factor is introduced in the back-projection formula to compensate for the variations of detection views. A method for implementing this algorithm is described. Numerical simulation is used to demonstrate the performance of the algorithm.

1,114 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used Mie theory for spherical particles and with more complicated numerical methods for other particle shapes to calculate aerosol light absorption in the atmosphere, which contributes to solar radiative forcing through absorption of solar radiation and heating of the absorbing aerosol layer.
Abstract: Light absorption by aerosols contributes to solar radiative forcing through absorption of solar radiation and heating of the absorbing aerosol layer. Besides the direct radiative effect, the heating can evaporate clouds and change the atmospheric dynamics. Aerosol light absorption in the atmosphere is dominated by black carbon (BC) with additional, significant contributions from the still poorly understood brown carbon and from mineral dust. Sources of these absorbing aerosols include biomass burning and other combustion processes and dust entrainment. For particles much smaller than the wavelength of incident light, absorption is proportional to the particle volume and mass. Absorption can be calculated with Mie theory for spherical particles and with more complicated numerical methods for other particle shapes. The quantitative measurement of aerosol light absorption is still a challenge. Simple, commonly used filter measurements are prone to measurement artifacts due to particle concentration and modification of particle and filter morphology upon particle deposition, optical interaction of deposited particles and filter medium, and poor angular integration of light scattered by deposited particles. In situ methods measure particle absorption with the particles in their natural suspended state and therefore are not prone to effects related to particle deposition and concentration on filters. Photoacoustic and refractive index-based measurements rely on the heating of particles during light absorption, which, for power-modulated light sources, causes an acoustic signal and modulation of the refractive index in the air surrounding the particles that can be quantified with a microphone and an interferometer, respectively. These methods may suffer from some interference due to light-induced particle evaporation. Laser-induced incandescence also monitors particle heating upon absorption, but heats absorbing particles to much higher temperatures to quantify BC mass from the thermal radiation emitted by the heated particles. Extinction-minus-scattering techniques have limited sensitivity for measuring aerosol light absorption unless the very long absorption paths of cavity ring-down techniques are used. Systematic errors can be dominated by truncation errors in the scattering measurement for large particles or by subtraction errors for high single scattering albedo particles. Remote sensing techniques are essential for global monitoring of aerosol light absorption. While local column-integrated measurements of aerosol light absorption with sun and sky radiometers are routinely done, global satellite measurements are so far largely limited to determining a semi-quantitative UV absorption index.

702 citations


Cites background from "Applications of photoacoustic sensi..."

  • ...Photoacoustic technique Photoacoustic spectroscopy is a widespread and practical tool for trace detection and characterization of all phases of matter [284,294], but especially useful, practical, and robust for quantifying light absorption by gases and aerosols [53,295,296] as demonstrated by the balloon borne detection of trace gases in the stratosphere [297], by sensitive respiration measurements of trace gases by tomatoes and cockroaches [298], and by aircraft borne measurements of aerosol light absorption [58]....

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  • ...For the photoacoustic technique, the optical power is modulated at an acoustic frequency and the transfer of heat, modulated at the same frequency, to the surrounding air generates a sound wave at that frequency that is detected with a microphone [284]....

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a quantitative derivation for the acoustic signal in a photoacoustic cell in terms of the optical, thermal, and geometric parameters of the system is presented. And the theory predicts the dependence of the signal on the absorption coefficient of the solid, thereby giving a theoretical foundation for the technique of photoacoustical spectroscopy.
Abstract: When chopped light impinges on a solid in an enclosed cell, an acoustic signal is produced within the cell. This effect is the basis of a new spectroscopic technique for the study of solid and semisolid matter. A quantitative derivation is presented for the acoustic signal in a photoacoustic cell in terms of the optical, thermal, and geometric parameters of the system. The theory predicts the dependence of the signal on the absorption coefficient of the solid, thereby giving a theoretical foundation for the technique of photoacoustic spectroscopy. In particular, the theory accounts for the experimental observation that with this technique optical absorption spectra can be obtained for materials that are optically opaque.

2,278 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The theory for a sensitive spectroscopy based on the photothermal deflection of a laser beam is developed and its implications for imaging and microscopy are given, and the sources of noise are analyzed.
Abstract: The theory for a sensitive spectroscopy based on the photothermal deflection of a laser beam is developed. We consider cw and pulsed cases of both transverse and collinear photothermal deflection spectroscopy for solids, liquids, gases, and thin films. The predictions of the theory are experimentally verified, its implications for imaging and microscopy are given, and the sources of noise are analyzed. The sensitivity and versatility of photothermal deflection spectroscopy are compared with thermal lensing and photoacoustic spectroscopy.

1,267 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the elastic wave amplitude with respect to the characteristics of the input heat flux and the thermal and elastic properties of the body and found that the latter may be much greater than the former, as experiments have demonstrated.
Abstract: When the surface of a body is subjected to transient heating (e.g., by electron bombardment or rf absorption) elastic waves are produced as a result of surface motion due to thermal expansion. This process is analyzed, with particular emphasis on the case of an input heat flux varying harmonically with time, to relate the elastic wave amplitude to the characteristics of the input flux and the thermal and elastic properties of the body. Experiments performed with both electron impact and rf absorption verify the proportionality of the stress wave amplitude and the absorbed power density, and correlate well with the thermal and elastic properties of the heated medium. Comparison of the elastic wave stress amplitude with radiation pressure shows that the former may be much greater than the latter, as experiments have demonstrated. When a barium titanate crystal was used to detect the elastic waves produced, heating by a single 2‐μsec pulse of electrons or microwave radiation produced easily detectible signal...

626 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
C. K. N. Patel1, Andrew C. Tam2
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the theory and experiments dealing with the pulsed optoacoustic effect (i.e., generation of a transient acoustic wave by absorption of an optical pulse) in condensed matter.
Abstract: The authors discuss the theory and experiments dealing with the pulsed optoacoustic effect (i.e., generation of a transient acoustic wave by absorption of an optical pulse) in condensed matter. Their primary interest lies in the measurement of small absorption coefficients (\ensuremath{\ll}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$). At present an experimental capability of measuring absorption coefficients as small as ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ has been demonstrated, and further improvement is foreseen. The pulsed optoacoustic absorption measurement technique has been applied to the following linear spectroscopic studies: (1) precise measurements of the optical absorption spectra of ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O and ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$O; (b) accurate determination of absorption strengths and profiles of high harmonics ($n=6, 7, \mathrm{and} 8$) of vibrational modes in transparent organic liquids (e.g., benzene); (c) quantitative absorption spectra of thin (\ensuremath{\sim} 1-10 \ensuremath{\mu}m) liquid films; and (d) quantitative absorption spectra of solids and finely powdered crystals. The usefulness of the pulsed optoacoustic technique to nonlinear spectroscopy has been demonstrated in the following studies: (a) quantitative two-photon absorption spectroscopy of the weak two-photon ($^{1}B_{2\ensuremath{\mu}}\ensuremath{\leftarrow}^{1}A_{1g}$) transition in benzene; and (b) optoacoustic Raman-gain spectra for a variety of liquids where an ability to measure Raman gains as small as ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ has been demonstrated. In addition to reviewing the above studies the authors discuss future possible applications and compare the pulsed optoacoustic spectroscopy technique with other optoacoustic absorption measurement techniques.

568 citations