Patent ID: 7861574

Claim:
A photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) system for remote sensing of a remote target comprising biological agents, comprising: a tunable laser for transmitting optical energy comprising laser pulses at a selected frequency to the remote target and causing acoustic signals to be emitted from the target; a pulse generator comprising a chopper operating at a frequency selected on the basis of background noise for generating pulses to said tunable laser; a sensor for detecting acoustical signals from the target; a reflector for receiving acoustic signals from the target and focusing the acoustic signals to a focal area comprising said sensor; a resonator for reducing acoustic interference and amplifying the acoustic signals; data acquisition and analysis equipment operatively connected and cooperating with said sensor, reflector, resonator, tunable laser, and pulse generator, for determining information about the target; said laser comprises a ultraviolet (UV) laser; said target comprises a biological agent; said reflector comprises a parabolic mirror; and said PAS system includes an optical sensor positioned in said resonator.