Mid-infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy of solids using an external-cavity quantum-cascade laser

We describe the use of a pulsed external-cavity quantum-cascade laser (EC-QCL) for the acquisition of mid-IR photoacoustic (PA) spectra of solids. The EC-QCL employed in this work operates from 990 to 1075 cm(-1) (9.30-10.10 mu m). A gas-microphone PA cell was used as the detector, and the signal was demodulated using a lock-in amplifier. PA EC-QCL spectra of solids display bands significantly narrower than those in corresponding PA Fourier transform infrared spectra. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America.