Presenter:      Jacob Williamson

Title:                    Towards a Microcavity-Based Broadband Aerosol Particle Detector

Date:                   Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Time:                   10:00 a.m. 

Location:         Howey N201/202 

Virtual Link:   https://gatech.zoom.us/j/95819321518?pwd=eoDMqYbwb2Z9ehWBfL3FEbOXj9kLIy.1

Committee members: 

Dr. Chandra Raman, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology (advisor)

Dr. Martin Mourigal, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology 

Dr. Nga Lee Ng, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

Dr. David Citrin, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology 

Dr. Elisabetta Matsumoto, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology 

Abstract: Microscopic airborne particles, called aerosols, are strongly correlated with negative health outcomes and require robust detection methods to quantify.  Light scattering instruments are already widely available, but are either too large, not sensitive enough, or too expensive for the average consumer.  CO$_2$ detection is another component of air quality but is not sufficient to predict particulate matter levels.  Additionally, while some sensors use cavity enhancement in some form, they also use expensive optical components or require large cavity lengths to work properly.  In this talk, I will describe a next-generation sensor using broadband incoherent light in a cavity-enhanced transmission detection scheme and discuss progress towards miniaturization of these sensors.