Method and system for in situ aerosol thermo-radiometric analysis

A particle identifier for identifying a particle in a flow comprising:

• a quantifying unit configured to quantify an optical scattering of the particle as a function of particle temperature at each of multiple temperatures above ambient temperature, the particle temperature being at or near a temperature of atmosphere surrounding the particle;
• a characterizing unit configured to characterize a physical change of the particle as a function of the optical scattering as quantified across the one or more temperatures;
• and
• an identifying unit configured to identify the particle based on characterized physical change of the particle.

A method of identifying a particle in a flow, comprising:

• providing multiple heating stations disposed in the flow;
• heating an atmosphere in each heating station to a respective temperature;
• admitting the particle to each heating station so as to heat the particle to each respective temperature;
• detecting optical scattering of the particle produced by the particle in situ at each heating station;
• quantifying the optical scattering with a particle identifier operably coupled to each heating station;
• characterizing a physical change of the particle as a function of the respective temperature and optical scattering;
• and
• identifying the particle based on a characterized physical change of the particle across the multiple heating stations.