Systems and methods for use in detecting harmful aerosol particles

A detection method, comprising:

• obtaining or making a detector system comprising:
• a first emitter configured to emit first excitation energy into a first region of space;
• a second emitter configured to emit second excitation energy into a second region of space;
• an emission detector having a detector input;
• a first filter disposed in front of a first portion of the detector input;
• and a second filter disposed in front of a second portion of the detector input;
• using the first emitter to emit the first excitation energy into the first region;
• using the second emitter to emit the second excitation energy into the second region;
• receiving a fluid containing a particle;
• directing the fluid so that the particle is first exposed primarily to the first excitation energy first and then, at a later time, exposed primarily to the second excitation energy;
• when the particle is exposed to the first excitation energy and, as a result of the exposure, produces radiation, directing at least some of the radiation to the first filter, but directing at most only an insubstantial amount of the radiation to the second filter;
• and
• when the particle is exposed to the second excitation energy and, as a result of the exposure, produces radiation, directing at least some of the radiation to the second filter, but directing at most only an insubstantial amount of the radiation to the first filter.

In a detector system comprising a first emitter, a second emitter, and a detector, a detection method, comprising:

• using the first emitter to emit into a region of space first radiation having a first wavelength;
• while using the first emitter to emit into the region the first radiation, using the second emitter to emit into the region second radiation having a second wavelength, so that, when a particle transits through the region of space, the particle is simultaneously exposed to the first and second radiation and, in response to being exposed to the radiation, produces elastic and/or inelastic radiation;
• modulating the intensity of the first radiation at a first frequency and modulating the intensity of the second radiation at a second frequency;
• transmitting, by reflective or refractive optics, the elastic and inelastic radiation to the detector through a filter or a combination of filters;
• receiving an output signal from the detector;
• and
• determining the intensity of said produced elastic and/or inelastic radiation that can attributed to the first emitter and the intensity of said produced elastic and/or inelastic radiation that can attributed to the second emitter.

A detector system comprising:

• a first intensity-modulated emitter configured to emit intensity-modulated first radiation into a region of space;
• a second intensity-modulated emitter configured to emit intensity-modulated second radiation into the region of space, such that, when a particle transits through the region of space, the particle is simultaneously exposed to the radiation from the first and second emitters and, in response to being exposed to the radiation, produces elastic and/or inelastic radiation;
• a detector;
• reflective or refractive optics configured to transmit the elastic and/or inelastic radiation to the detector;
• a processor configured to determine by spectral analysis the intensity of said produced elastic and/or inelastic radiation that can attributed to the first radiation and the intensity of said produced elastic and/or inelastic radiation that can attributed to the second radiation.