Abstract

A thermooptical technique is described for measuring the absorptivity spectrum of liquids using incoherent light. This technique is an extension of one previously used to measure absorptivity using coherent light, which was therefore limited to specific laser wavelengths. Absorptivities as small as 2 × 10⁻⁵ cm⁻¹ have been measured with 2–3 mW of optical power. The absorptivity spectrum of chlorobenzene is characterized by lines due to overtones of C-H vibration in the infrared with low loss valleys in between. Measurements of carbon tetrachloride showed no measurable absorptivity (i.e., less than 2 × 10⁻⁵ cm⁻¹) between 5600 Å and 10,600 Å.

© 1973 Optical Society of America

New Thermooptical Measurement Method and a Comparison with Other Methods

Chenming Hu and J. R. Whinnery
Appl. Opt. 12(1) 72-79 (1973)

Measurement of Rayleigh Scattering in Liquids Using Optical Fibers

J. Stone
Appl. Opt. 12(8) 1824-1827 (1973)

Measurements of the Absorption of Light in Low-Loss Liquids

J. Stone
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 62(3) 327-333 (1972)

Thermooptic-based differential measurements of weak solute absorptions with an interferometer

David A. Cremers and Richard A. Keller
Appl. Opt. 21(9) 1654-1662 (1982)

Optical Absorption in Glass: Investigation Using an Acoustic Technique

J. G. Parker
Appl. Opt. 12(12) 2974-2977 (1973)