Photoacoustic, Photothermal and Photochemical Processes at Surfaces and in Thin Films

Review articles by leading scientists in their fields are brought together in this volume to provide a comprehensive treatment of photoacoustic, photothermal and photochemical processes at surfaces and in thin films. The articles introduce the fields, review present knowledge and conclude with latest developments and future prospects. Topics covered include laser-induced desorption, ablation and surface damage; surface acoustic waves; photothermal and photoacoustic characterization of thin films and interfaces; depth profiling in the frequency and time domains; remote testing and nondestructive evaluation; materials characterization; and new theoretical approaches using fractals. The book will interest newcomers to photoacoustics, since it gives an overview of current research and details of experimental methods. It will also be a source of information for those already in the field due to its clear presentation of theory and experimental results. All relevant literature references in this rapidly expanding field are included.

1. Introduction.- 1.1 Laser Excitation and Induced Processes.- 1.2 Detection Schemes.- 1.3 Interface Systems.- 1.4 Applications.- 1.5 Discussion of the Literature.- References.- 2. Desorption Stimulated by Electronic Excitation with Laser Light.- 2.1 Stimulated Desorption — An Overview.- 2.2 Desorption Induced by Laser Light.- 2.3 Laser-Induced Desorption Stimulated by Surface Plasmon Excitation.- 2.4 Conclusions and Outlook.- References.- 3. Time-of-Flight Analysis of IR and UV Laser-Induced Multilayer Desorption and Ablation.- 3.1 Background.- 3.2 Desorption and Ablation.- 3.3 Time-of-Flight Technique.- 3.4 IR Laser-Induced Desorption and Ablation.- 3.5 UV Laser-Induced Desorption and Ablation.- 3.6 Conclusions.- References.- 4. From Laser-Induced Desorption to Surface Damage.- 4.1 Overview.- 4.2 Metals.- 4.3 Wide Band Gap Ionic Materials.- 4.4 Concluding Remarks.- References.- 5. Photothermal Analysis of Thin Films.- 5.1 Photothermal and Photoacoustic Effect in Thin Films.- 5.2 Spectroscopy of Thin Films.- 5.3 Thermal Analysis of Thin Films.- 5.4 Ultrasonic Analysis of Thin Films.- 5.5 Nondestructive Evaluation of Thin Films.- 5.6 Miscellaneous Thin Film Applications.- 5.7 Conclusion.- References.- 6. Photothermal Characterization of Surfaces and Interfaces.- 6.1 Photoacoustic Generation and Transducer Detection.- 6.2 Photothermal Probe-Beam Refractions.- 6.3 Photothermal Radiometry.- 6.4 Conclusions.- References.- 7. Spectroscopic Depth Profiling Using Thermal Waves.- 7.1 Theory.- 7.2 Experimental Methods.- 7.3 Applications.- References.- 8. Frequency-Modulated Time-Delay-Domain Photothermal Spectrometry: Principles, Instrumentation and Applications to Solids.- 8.1 Introduction and Conceptual Building Blocks.- 8.2 Experimental FM-TDS Recovery Techniques, DynamicRange and Limitations.- 8.3 Photothermal Wave Applications.- 8.4 Conclusions — Future Directions.- References.- 9. Nondestructive Evaluation with Thermal Waves.- 9.1 Physical Background of Thermal Waves.- 9.2 Experimental Arrangement.- 9.3 Nondestructive Evaluation of Metals with Thermal Waves.- 9.4 NDE of Nonmetals with Thermal Waves.- 9.5 Coatings.- 9.6 Conclusion.- References.- 10. Surface Acoustic Waves in Solid-State Investigations.- 10.1 Fundamentals.- 10.2 Investigation and Characterization of Materials by Surface Acoustic Waves: State of the Art and Main Results.- 10.3 Conclusion.- References.- 11. Heat Diffusion and Random Media.- 11.1 Diffusion Processes.- 11.2 Introduction to Fractal Geometry.- 11.3 Diffusion from Fractal Sources: A Possible Model for the Behavior of Rough Surfaces?.- 11.4 Euclidean and Fractal Sources in Random Media: A Possible Model for Heat Diffusion in Random Media?.- 11.5 Future Trends and Conclusion.- References.- 12. Locally Resolved Magnetic Resonance in Ferromagnetic Layers and Films.- 12.1 Survey of Microwave Resonance Detection Techniques.- 12.2 Basic Theory of Ferromagnetic Resonance.- 12.3 Photoacoustically Detected Ferromagnetic Resonance.- 12.4 FMR Detection by Photothermal Laser Beam Deflection.- 12.5 Photothermally Modulated Ferromagnetic Resonance.- 12.6 Summary.- References.