Measurement of Light Absorbing Aerosols with Folded-Jamin Photothermal Interferometry

Abstract

In this study, a photothermal interferometer was developed, based on a folded-Jamin polarization instrument with refractive-index sensitive configuration, in order to characterize light-absorbing aerosols. The feasibility of our interferometric technique was demonstrated by performing photothermal spectroscopy characterizing spark-generated black carbon particles with atmospherically relevant concentrations and atmospheric aerosols in a metropolitan area. The sensitivity of this interferometric system for both laboratory-generated aerosols and atmospheric aerosols was ~ 1 (μg/m3)/μV, which is sufficient for the monitoring of black carbon aerosol in urban areas.

Keywords

• photothermal interferometry
• light absorption
• aerosols
• black carbon