Inventing a Quicker and Smaller Tool to Measure Air Quality

Co PIs: Dr. Shane Murphy and Dr. Matthew Burkhart

Project Name: Commercial Photoacoustic Absorption Spectrometer

Graduate Stduent: Max Appelbaum

The Murphy lab is building a specialized tool that uses lasers and sound to measure how tiny particles in the air, like soot and wildfire smoke, absorb light. This device will be much more accurate than older tools, helping us understand exactly how these particles heat the atmosphere, influence the environment, affect people’s health and affect directed energy systems.

How this research affects the public

Company Partner

Problem

Standard air quality tools can't always tell the difference between different types of particles, and older sensors often give wrong readings because they can only measure particles after they’ve been collected on a filter. Previous versions of our specific instrument were also too large and heavy to be used easily outside of a lab.

Solution/Product

This new device measures aerosol absorption by "listening" to the tiny vibrations they make when hit by a laser. By making it compact, low-weight, and low-power, this innovation will be tough enough to be used in the field to investigate smoke from fires, dust, or other particulates in the air.

Wyoming Impact

This technology provides a better way to track how smoke from wildfires, dust, or industrial soot affects the state’s atmosphere and weather. It also supports advanced engineering projects that require high precision light absorption measurements, such as directed energy defense systems.

company partner:

Handix Scientific