The Development of an Integrating Cavity Absorption Meter to Measure Optical Absorption of Pure Waters and Suspended Particulates
Abstract
The Integrating Cavity Absorption Meter (ICAM) provides an instrument capable of measuring optical absorption independent of scattering effects. The measurement of optical absorption has always been complicated by scattering effects. The most common and perhaps simplest method of measuring absorption is based on transmission of light through the sample. Scatterers produce systematic errors which prevent simple transmission type absorption measurements. The ICAM is, in principal, rigorously independent of scattering effects. In this thesis the theory of the device is reviewed, and five developmental models of the device are described. Measurement results are presented for: absorption results in the presence of varying concentrations of scatterers; absorption spectra of various pure water samples compared to accepted values; and absorption spectra for various phytoplankton cultures. Absorption values as low as .001/meters have been measured. Keywords: Optical absorption; Isotropic illumination; Light scattering. Theses.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA222254
Entities
People
- Robin M. Pope
Organizations
- Texas A&M University