Abstract:
In its broadest sense, optical spectroscopy can be defined as the study of the interaction of light with matter. Optical spectroscopy is invaluable in studies on clean media but there are several instances where it is inadequate. In order to solve this problem, several techniques were developed, but these were applicable to only a small category of materials and useful only in a small wavelength region. In the 1970’s a new optical technique was developed to study the materials that are unsuitable for the conventional transmission or reflection methodologies. This technique called photoacoustic spectroscopy or PAS, is different than the conventional technique, since the measured signals are produced only by the absorbed light absolutely converted to heat in the sample. In this thesis, the photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) experimental system that was set up at the National Metrology Institute (UME) of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) in order to make spectroscopic research on solid samples is introduced. The confirmation of whether this system is working according to the Rosencwaig-Gersho (RG) theory is done. By the aid of this study, in the future, not only spectroscopic and photocalorimetric studies, but also nondestructive depth profile analysis, thickness measurement of layers and thin films will be done using the above mentioned PAS system.
