Theoretical analysis of a resonant quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy sensor

In this paper, we report the first analytical model for quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy in combination with an acoustic resonator. A generalized fundamental equation is proposed to model the photoacoustic effect, taking into account the coupling between the tuning fork and the surrounding fluid. The analytical signal-to-noise ratio is derived, yielding a direct physical insight with respect to the system design. Experimental behaviors are very well reproduced, and numerical finite elements methods are implemented to successfully confirm the relevance of our approach. We also provide a detailed explanation of the coupling dynamics between the quartz tuning fork and the acoustically resonant tube.