Industrial applications of optical, photothermal, and photoacoustic techniques

Course objectives

The objective is to provide the management engineer with the basis for understanding the theory and principles of innovative optical, photothermal, photoacoustic, radiometric and thermographic techniques and instruments, and to understand the main applications together with their industrial relapses and with a deep analysis of the economical impacts and parameters. The topics are organized to provide scientific technical expertise in order to work in the field of applied research, making easier the employment of the new engineer in industry. Contents of the proposed course: The course will provide the theoretical bases of the optical systems, the laser with its applications. Photothermal, photoacoustic, radiometric, and infrared techniques will be introduced for nonsdestructive evaluation and testing of materials, together with the many applications in different fields: industry, environment, energy, but also biology, medicine, and in the emerging sector of agri-food. Final comparisons will be introduced among the diagnostic techniques by using parameters of the management engeneering. The course contains also some experimental activities in laboratory and the data analysis and processing.

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ROBERTO LI VOTI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
OPTICS The wave equation. Electromagnetic spectrum. Interaction of electromagnetic waves with matter. Fresnel coefficients. Transmittance, Reflectance and Absorption. Diffusion of light. Sources and detectors. Optical systems. THERMAL WAVES The heat diffusion equation. Generation, propagation, reflection and refraction of thermal waves. Interferometry and resonance of thermal waves. Heat diffusion in stratified media. PHOTOACOUSTIC and PHOTOTHERMAL TECHNIQUES, and INFRARED THERMOGRAPY Principles of photothermal, photoacoustic, photopyroelectric, and radiometric techniques and infrared thermography. FUNDAMENTALS OF SPECTROSCOPY UV-Vis spectroscopy Infrared spectroscopy. Photothermal spectroscopy. Photoacoustic spectroscopy. Photoemission spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy. Interferometry. Industrial applications: equipment and data analysis. INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF MATERIALS. Measurement of thermal diffusivity, measurements of thickness of stratified media, measurements of the profile of hardness in steels, detection of traces of pollutants, detection of chlorophylls and bioactive compounds in food. Industrial applications for quality control of materials. Applications in the field of nanotechnologies, biological and biomedical. Agro-food applications. Data analysis and equipment. MANAGEMENT & ECONOMICAL ASPECTS The panorama of companies and start-up operating in the sector. The study of economical and management parameters. Study of development areas in the market. Business idea, business case. Examples of R&D companies.
Prerequisites
none
Books
Texts distributed in classroom. Laboratory Exercises
Exam mode
At the beginning of the Course come projects will be defined and choosen. The final exam consists on the study and preparation of a specific project with final oral discussion
ROBERTO LI VOTI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
OPTICS The wave equation. Electromagnetic spectrum. Interaction of electromagnetic waves with matter. Fresnel coefficients. Transmittance, Reflectance and Absorption. Diffusion of light. Sources and detectors. Optical systems. THERMAL WAVES The heat diffusion equation. Generation, propagation, reflection and refraction of thermal waves. Interferometry and resonance of thermal waves. Heat diffusion in stratified media. PHOTOACOUSTIC and PHOTOTHERMAL TECHNIQUES, and INFRARED THERMOGRAPY Principles of photothermal, photoacoustic, photopyroelectric, and radiometric techniques and infrared thermography. FUNDAMENTALS OF SPECTROSCOPY UV-Vis spectroscopy Infrared spectroscopy. Photothermal spectroscopy. Photoacoustic spectroscopy. Photoemission spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy. Interferometry. Industrial applications: equipment and data analysis. INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING OF MATERIALS. Measurement of thermal diffusivity, measurements of thickness of stratified media, measurements of the profile of hardness in steels, detection of traces of pollutants, detection of chlorophylls and bioactive compounds in food. Industrial applications for quality control of materials. Applications in the field of nanotechnologies, biological and biomedical. Agro-food applications. Data analysis and equipment. MANAGEMENT & ECONOMICAL ASPECTS The panorama of companies and start-up operating in the sector. The study of economical and management parameters. Study of development areas in the market. Business idea, business case. Examples of R&D companies.
Prerequisites
none
Books
Texts distributed in classroom. Laboratory Exercises
Exam mode
At the beginning of the Course come projects will be defined and choosen. The final exam consists on the study and preparation of a specific project with final oral discussion
  • Lesson codeAAF1897
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseManagement Engineering
  • CurriculumModelli decisionali per l'Ingegneria gestionale
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester2nd semester
  • CFU3