Remote sensing applications of pulsed photothermal radiometry

The technique of pulsed photothermal radiometry (PPTR) (i.e., detection of the transient infrared thermal radiation from a condensed matter sample heated by a short-pulsed radiation) is useful for single-ended remote sensing applications. We demonstrate for the first time such applications for spectroscopic detection, measurement of absolute absorption coefficients in opaque materials, and sensing of dimensions or thermal properties in inhomogeneous materials. Theory of the PPTR technique in the simple case of a semi-infinite homogeneous material is described.