Scientists from the LOD work on a miniaturized photoacoustic cell. The volume of internal cavity for the cell is ~ 5 mm³. We have an experience how to design, manufacture, test and apply such cells.

Despite the reduced sizes, the developed cells are comparable in the performance (that is, in the sensitivity) with respect to non-miniaturized ones. The minimal detectable absorption estimated from our experiment for the cells is better than ~ 10^-8 cm^-1 W Hz^-1/2. Such a millimeter-sized cell powered by the minute commercially available laser source (for instance, a near-infrared distributed-feed-back laser diode or mid-infrared quantum cascade laser) with a typical output power of ~ 10 mW will allow to detect trace gases at a sensitivity level, which can be attained by the absorption spectroscopy techniques along the optical path longer than 10 km.

See http://www.micepas.basnet.by/ for more details.