Bubble chamber as a trace chemical detector

A novel concept for trace chemical analysis in liquids has been demonstrated. The technique utilizes light absorption in a superheated liquid. Although a superheated liquid is thermodynamically unstable, a high degree of superheating can be dynamically achieved for a short period of time. During thi...

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Veröffentlicht in:Applied Optics 1998-08, Vol.37 (24), p.5640-5646
Hauptverfasser: Luo, X, McCreary, E I, Atencio, J H, McCown, A W, Sander, R K
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:A novel concept for trace chemical analysis in liquids has been demonstrated. The technique utilizes light absorption in a superheated liquid. Although a superheated liquid is thermodynamically unstable, a high degree of superheating can be dynamically achieved for a short period of time. During this time the superheated liquid is extremely sensitive to boiling at nucleation sites produced by energy deposition. Observation of bubbles in the superheated liquid in some sense provides amplification of the initial energy deposition. Bubble chambers containing superheated liquids have been used to detect energetic particles; now a bubble chamber is used to detect a trace chemical in superheated liquid propane by observing bubble formation initiated by optical absorption. Crystal violet is used as a test case and can be detected at the subpart-per-10(12) level by using a Nd:YAG laser. The mechanism for bubble formation and ideas for further improvement are discussed.
ISSN:1559-128X
0003-6935
1539-4522
DOI:10.1364/AO.37.005640