
Starter Kit Instruction Manual  | Maintenance  | 54  | 
9.1.3Photoacoustic detection
In the photoacoustic detection, the optical beam is periodically modulated in amplitude before illumi- nating the cell containing the absorbing chemical. The expansion generated by the periodic heating of the chemical creates an acoustic wave which is detected by a microphone.
The two very important advantages of photoa- coustic detection are:
•a signal is detected only in the presence of absorption from the molecule;
•no 
For these reasons, photoacoustic detection has the potential of being cheap and very sensitive. How- ever, ultimate sensitivity is usually limited by the optical power of the source.
a.c. modulation of  | Detection of the  | 
the laser amplitude  | acoustic wave at w  | 
w  | 
  | 
QC Laser  | Chemical Cell  | 
  | Microphone  |