Photoacoustic photon meter and process for measuring photon fluence

摘要

A photoacoustic photon meter includes: a photoacoustic generative array including carbon nanotubes disposed in a photoacoustic generating pattern, such that the carbon nanotubes: receive photons comprising optical energy, and produce thermal energy from the optical energy; and a superstratum including a thermally expandable elastomer on which the photoacoustic generative array is fixedly disposed in position on the superstratum to spatially conserve the photoacoustic generating pattern, and such that the superstratum: is optically transparent to the photons; receives the thermal energy from the photoacoustic generative array; expands and contracts in response to receipt of the thermal energy; and produces photoacoustic pressure waves in response to the expansion and contraction, the photoacoustic pressure waves including a photoacoustic intensity and photoacoustic frequency that are based upon an amount of optical pressure applied to the carbon nanotubes by the photons, a spatial photon fluence of the photons, or a spectral photon fluence of photons.