Calorimetric measurement of optical absorption

Abstract
Airborne particles are drawn into a chamber. After closing the chamber the particles are irradiated with broadband shortwave radiation. The mean shortwave volume absorption coefficient of the particles is calculated from the measured pressure change with time within the chamber. The method has been calibrated using water vapor. The detection limit is ±2 × 10−6/m in terms of the volume absorption coefficient. There is very good agreement between the calorimetric and a new photometric absorption measurement. Advantages and disadvantages of both methods are discussed at the end of the paper.