Aerosols play a critical role in a broad range of scientific disciplines, such as atmospheric chemistry and physics, combustion science, drug delivery and human health. This thesis explores the fundamentals of a new technique for capturing single or multiple particles using light, and for characterising these particles by Raman or fluorescence spectroscopy. The outcome of this research represents a significant development in optical manipulation techniques, specifically in optical tweezing. These findings can be applied to studies of the mass accommodation of gas-phase water molecules adsorbing onto a water surface. Not only is this a fundamental process of interest to physical chemists, but it is important for understanding the role of aerosol particles in the atmosphere, including their ability to become cloud droplets. This new strategy for investigating aerosol dynamics is fundamental in helping us understand the indirect effect of aerosols on the climate.

Introduction

Aerosol mass transfer

Experimental techniques

Optical manipulation in aerosol optical tweezers

Spectroscopy of optically-tweezed aerosol droplets containing fluorescent chromophores

Ultra-sensitive absorption spectroscopy of optically-tweezed aerosol droplets

Kinetics of aerosol mass transfer

Summary, conclusions and future directions