LASER DEW-POINT HYGROMETER

A rough-surface-type automatic dew-point hygrometer was developed using a laser diode and an optical fiber cable. A gold plate with 0.8 mu m average surface roughness was used as a surface for deposition of dew to facilitate dew deposition and prevent supersaturation of water vapor at the dew point. It was shown experimentally that the quantity of dew deposited can be controlled to be constant at any predetermined level, and is independent of the dew point to be measured. The dew points were measured in the range from -15 degrees C to 54 degrees C in which the temperature ranged from 0 degrees C to 60 degrees C. The measurement error of the dew point was +/-0.5 degrees C which was equal to below +/-2% in relative humidity in the above dew-point range.