Hodgkinson, JaneJohnson, MarkDakin, John P.2010-12-172010-12-172005-01-01Jane Hodgkinson, Mark Johnson, and John P. Dakin. Quantitative analysis of a closed photoacoustic cell that uses a high compliance piezoelectric transducer. Journal of Applied Physics, 2005, Vol.98, 0849080021-8979http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2108147http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/4299A treatment of the operation of low-frequency closed photoacoustic cells is presented, which considers the compliance of various cell elements. The optimum detector, according to our predictions, has a sensor whose compliance is large compared to that of the fluid enclosed by the cell. A simple photoacoustic cell has been built, incorporating a thin-walled piezoelectric cylinder. It was used to test the theory, and demonstrate photoacoustic detection of an absorber in aqueous solution, excited by a low power 678nm laser diode modulated at 110Hz. We have detected absorbances as low as approximately 3ï ´10 -3 cm -1 (SNR=1), corresponding to the absorption of light with a modulated power of 50ï ­Wen-UKArticle