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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/L23116/01
Title: PHOTACOUSTIC ENVIROMENTAL MONITORING APPLICATIONS (PEMA)
Principal Investigator: MacKenzie, Dr H
Other Investigators:
Suttie, Dr R
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Pre Nexus Migration Shell
Department: Physics
Organisation: Heriot-Watt University
Scheme: LINK
Starts: 01 March 1997 Ends: 28 February 1999 Value (£): 99,186
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Optical Devices & Subsystems
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The availability of advanced optoelectronic devices from the telecommunication industry presents the opportunity of creating a new generation of analytical instruments for quantifying the concentration of both natural and pollutant substances in water using photoacoustic spectroscopy. Time resolved studies of photoacoustic signal generation spectroscopic techniques and theoretical studies will establish a basis for the concentration measurement of dissolved and dispersed hydrocarbons. State of the art laser diodes and piezoelectric sensors will be combined to form application specific sensor heads and both through laboratory based measurements and field trials, methods to quantify the concentrations will be established. The sensors will find numerous applications, particularly in environmental monitoring. A laboratory programme of photoacoustic spectroscopy will establish the calibration requirements. The academic research programme will pursue the following activities:1. Sensor head optimisation:- Piezoelectric and mechanical design for maximum detectivity.2. Photoacoustic spectroscopy:- Photoacoustic spectra of differing concentration of hydrocarbon pollutants as a basis for calibration algorithm. 3. Time resolved studies:- Fourier analysis of the acoustic signal from single and mixed systems to establish dissolved and dispersed components.4. Theoretical studies:- To optimise beam geometry and optical pulse requirements and to model the temporal response.5. Field tests:- Assessment of demonstrator performance.
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Organisation Website: http://www.hw.ac.uk