Bubble chamber as a trace chemical detector

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · Applied Optics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.37.005640· OSTI ID:675098

Luo, X ^[1]; McCreary, E I; Atencio, J H; McCown, A W; Sander, R K ^[2]

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1. Gemfire Corporation, Palo Alto, California 94303 (United States)
2. Los Alamos National Laboratory, CST-4, CST-1, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)

A novel concept for trace chemical analysis in liquid 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{sup 12} level by using a Nd:YAG laser. The mechanism for bubble formation and ideas for further improvement are discussed. {copyright} 1998 Optical Society of America

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 675098
• Journal Information: Applied Optics, Journal Name: Applied Optics Journal Issue: 24 Vol. 37; ISSN APOPAI; ISSN 0003-6935
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

40 CHEMISTRY
44 INSTRUMENTATION
INCLUDING NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE DETECTORS
ABSORPTION
BUBBLE CHAMBERS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
LASER RADIATION
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
PULSE TECHNIQUES
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
TRACE AMOUNTS
VISIBLE SPECTRA