Studies of Multichannel Photothermal Refraction for the Measurement of Absolute Absorptivity

Abstract

Multichannel crossed-beam photothermal refraction experiments have been performed. Iron(II)-phenanthroline in methanol was the test solute. The response as a function of concentration exhibited a nonlinear relationship, which does not agree with the current theoretical description of the phenomena. Although photophysical and photochemical processes were not totally eliminated as possible causes of the nonlinear concentration response, arguments are presented which indicate, for the experimental conditions employed in this study, that these processes are negligible. It is proposed that the heat transfer model must be modified to include refractive index gradients in both the radial and axial coordinates of the pump laser beam.