Probe beam size effect on the measurement of the distance between the probe beam and the sample in photothermal deflection

A distance-scan method to determine the distance between the probe beam and sample, which is not easily measured exactly, in photothermal deflection (PD) was reported, with which the distance and thermal diffusivity of the deflecting medium can be simultaneously measured. Probe beam size effect (PBSE) on PD phase signal was quantitatively analyzed to clearly show its physical meaning. The measured distance was experimentally verified as correct and reliable, and the measured thermal diffusivities of N-2 and CO2 are in good agreement with the literature values. They could not be precisely measured by phase signal without considering the PBSE. (c) 2006 Optical Society of America.