optoacoustic detection method

optoacoustic detection method

[¦äp·tō·ə¦küs·tik di′tek·shən ‚meth·əd] (analytical chemistry) A method of detecting trace inpurities in a gas, in which the absorption of a sample of the gas at various light frequencies is measured by directing a periodically interrupted laser beam through the sample in a spectrophone and measuring the sound generated by the optoacoustic effect at the frequency of interruption of the beam.